Written by Luke Hamilton.

At a press conference this Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump stirred up more controversy around January 6, 2021, by calling out the FBI for their lack of arrests in the case of the pipe bombs planted near the Republican and Democratic National Committee offices. Trump didn’t mince words, claiming the FBI knows exactly who’s behind the incident and questioning their failure to act.

“When you look at what happened on January 6,” Trump said, “you’ll see a crowd that was mostly unarmed, and the only person killed was Ashli Babbit, an unarmed protester. Yet here we are—no answers about the pipe bomber. The FBI knows who it is, but nothing’s been done.”

This isn’t the first time Trump has called out federal agencies, but his remarks come just days after the FBI released new footage of the suspect, described as around 5 feet 7 inches tall. It’s a move that some see as too little, too late—especially after years of unanswered questions.

Congress Takes Aim at the FBI

Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., alongside the House Administration Committee, dropped a scathing report highlighting what he called a lack of real progress in the investigation. “It’s been more than 1,400 days since those bombs were planted, and yet the FBI has failed to arrest or charge anyone,” the report stated. Loudermilk suggested that the investigation had hit a suspicious standstill after the initial weeks, leaving critics wondering if the truth is being intentionally withheld.

And then there’s the timing. Vice President Kamala Harris, who was at the DNC that day, has remained notably silent. Her motorcade passed within mere feet of one of the pipe bombs at 11:25 a.m., yet the device wasn’t discovered until 1:07 p.m. by a Capitol Police officer. Many are left asking: How could something like that go unnoticed by Secret Service or Capitol Police?

This has only fueled speculation among some conservatives that the whole thing might have been a federal false-flag operation designed to draw resources away from the Capitol right as things were getting heated.

A Shadow of Doubt Over Federal Agencies

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., didn’t hold back when he grilled DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz last year, directly asking if the pipe bomber was an FBI informant. Horowitz, conveniently, couldn’t recall. The non-answer has added more fuel to the fire for those who see a pattern of dodging and deflecting when it comes to the feds and their handling of January 6.

Adding to the skepticism is the timing of the FBI’s latest “update.” More than three years later, they release previously unseen footage, but no new leads or suspects emerge. Critics argue this reeks of damage control rather than actual investigative progress.

Our Take

The glaring lack of accountability and transparency surrounding the pipe bomber investigation is troubling on multiple levels. If the FBI truly knows who’s responsible, as Trump claims, why haven’t they made an arrest? The delayed release of footage and vague updates only deepen suspicions of a coverup.

This situation reflects a broader crisis of trust in federal institutions. When the agencies tasked with protecting the American people appear selective in their enforcement—or worse, potentially complicit—it’s no wonder so many are losing faith.

What’s most alarming is the precedent this sets. If federal authorities can brush aside serious incidents like this without consequence, what else might they be sweeping under the rug? Accountability matters, and the American public deserves answers, not excuses.