House Judiciary Subcommittee Probes FBI's Handling of Jan. 5 pipe bombs, Witnesses Cite Leadership and Resource Failures

WASHINGTON

A House Judiciary select subcommittee hearing on Dec. 4 examined why the FBI did not identify a suspect in the pipe bombs placed outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters until a new "red team" reexamined evidence under later leadership, witnesses told lawmakers.

Chairman Barry Loudermilk opened the hearing by listing unresolved questions about what federal law enforcement knew and when, saying investigators had "critical evidence identifying Brian Cole Jr." for years but failed to act. He said the discovery of the devices on Jan. 6, 2021, diverted law-enforcement resources during the Capitol certification and demanded oversight of the FBI's prior case management.

Ranking Member Jamie Raskin commended the FBI and Capitol Police for ultimately arresting the suspect but cautioned that the hearing should not jeopardize the ongoing prosecution. "Under our criminal-justice system, of course, he's presumed innocent till proven guilty," Raskin said.

Four witnesses called by the committee described different but overlapping explanations for the investigative delay. Former FBI executive Chris Paiota told the panel that culture, leadership and operational practices can determine…