After four frustrating years of trying to track down the individual who planted two working pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic National Committees, the FBI is optimistic that someone’s loyalties might have shifted, making them more willing to come forward.
Even with widely circulated images of a suspect in a hoodie and mask, a generous reward on offer, and countless interviews conducted, they still haven’t figured out who set those bombs on January 5, 2021—the night before then-President Trump made his last attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
Recently, on Thursday, the FBI shared new video footage showing different angles of the suspect near both party locations along with an updated height estimate of five feet seven inches for the person who was seen wearing that distinctive hoodie and mask. They hope this fresh information will spark new tips.
David Sundberg, assistant director at the FBI’s Washington field office, mentioned that maybe in 2025 people will view this information or suspect differently than before. He suggested that perhaps allegiances or relationships have changed over time and now might be a good moment for someone to come forward.
The videos illustrate how this person navigated around both headquarters before planting the bombs. In one clip, you can see them pause on a residential street in Washington—putting down their backpack and seemingly putting on glasses while checking their surroundings. Another piece of footage shows an angle not previously released where you can clearly see them placing one bomb under a bench at the DNC.
Sundberg noted that tips from the public have been invaluable but emphasized they’re still working hard to identify this suspect. They’re hoping that by sharing more details it might trigger someone’s memory about what they saw back then.
Notably, during that time, then Vice President-elect Kamala Harris came alarmingly close—just 20 feet—to one of those bombs at DNC headquarters. Both explosives were discovered about 15 hours after being planted, giving whoever did it plenty of time to escape unnoticed.
Sundberg confirmed there’s no doubt these bombs were functional and mentioned that they’ve gone through an impressive amount—39,000 video files—and received over 600 tips so far. They’re also drawing attention to the unique black-and-grey Nike Air Max shoes worn by the suspect; around 25,000 pairs were sold when those bombs were placed.
When asked if he thought this case had gone cold since they still don’t know whether their suspect is male or female—or much else for that matter—Sundberg remained confident: “The FBI has a long memory and reach,” he said firmly. “We’ll keep pursuing these cases until we reach a logical conclusion.”
Sundberg mentioned that the investigation is facing challenges because it’s tough to pinpoint the suspect. If you look at the video, you’ll notice the suspect is almost entirely covered up with a hood, mask, and gloves. He also pointed out that the surveillance footage from around the area isn’t very consistent; some of it varies quite a bit in quality.
The FBI, along with ATF and other agencies, has put up a significant reward—up to $500,000—for any tips that could lead to catching this suspect. However, they still haven’t received enough useful information to track down the bomber. Both bombs were found on January 6, 2021, right when police were getting overwhelmed as rioters stormed the Capitol building.
Since then, over 1,500 individuals have been charged in connection with that day’s events, including nearly 600 for assaulting or resisting law enforcement officers. Interestingly enough, a federal case against Trump regarding his attempts to undermine the Electoral College was dropped after he won the presidential election in 2024.