Sen. Johnson to Secret Service: How Did Agents Miss a Pipe Bomb Outside DNC Headquarters on January 6?

Letter

Dear Director Murray:

In continuation of my examination of events before, during, and after the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol breach, I write regarding the Secret Service's protection of then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on that day.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), on January 5, 2021 between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., an individual placed two pipe bombs in Washington, D.C. -- one near the Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters and another near the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters.[1] The next day, on January 6, 2021, then-Vice President-elect Harris reportedly arrived at the DNC headquarters at 11:30 a.m.[2] Prior to Harris' arrival, the Secret Service reportedly "swept the interior of the [DNC headquarters], the driveway, parking deck and entrances and exits."[3] Reports indicate that at 1:07 p.m., U.S. Capitol Police began investigating the pipe bomb at that location, and at 1:14 p.m., an unnamed Secret Service protectee -- presumably Harris -- was removed from the DNC.[4] The bomb threat was cleared at 4:36 p.m.[5] To date, law enforcement has not been able to identify or locate the suspect who allegedly planted the pipe bombs at the RNC and DNC headquarters.

Given that Secret Service reportedly swept the areas in and around the DNC headquarters prior to Harris' arrival on January 6, 2021, it seems odd that agents did not immediately discover the pipe bomb that was reportedly located next to a park bench at that location.[6]

In order to better understand this potential lapse in security, I request that you provide the following information:

When did the Secret Service conduct their sweep of the DNC headquarters prior to then-Vice President-elect Harris' arrival on January 6, 2021? What specific areas did Secret Service sweep in and around the DNC headquarters?
Please explain why Secret Service did not discover the pipe bomb reportedly located "next to a park bench" near the DNC headquarters during their sweep?[8]
Has Secret Service conducted an internal review of this potential lapse in security? If so, please provide all documents and communications associated with that review.
Has this potential lapse in security been referred to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspect General? If not, please explain why.
Please provide this information by March 1, 2022. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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