Kyle Seraphin, a former FBI agent involved in examining the pipe bombs found near the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) buildings the day before the Capitol riot on January 6th, 2021, has provided vital information. As per a report by the Washington Times, Seraphin states that the devices were non-functional and did not pose any actual danger.
The FBI’s official statement about the devices claimed that the pipe bombs were functional, but his testimony contradicts this.
During an interview, Seraphin stated that technicians from the Joint Program Office for Countering IEDs had verified to him that the devices were incomplete and could not function as actual bombs. “The devices were primitive and had all the components you would have for a bomb, but they weren’t assembled like a real bomb,” he stated. “They would have never gone off. There was no chance they could have actually detonated. So they were inert devices. They just looked good.”
The ex-agent raised concerns over the investigation process, claiming that the protocol was breached. According to him, revealing any details about the investigation goes against the golden rule, and initial reports are often incorrect or unclear. Seraphin’s comments hint at the possibility that the FBI might not be entirely transparent about the actual nature of the devices.
Two pipe bombs were found near the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters in Washington, D.C. on January 5, 2021, the day before the Capitol riot occurred. The discovery of these bombs caused additional tension and raised concerns about the events leading to the breach of the Capitol.
Pipe bombs were found in two separate locations near the U.S. Capitol – one near the intersection of First Street and F Street, close to the RNC, and the other on the 300 block of Second Street, close to the DNC. The bombs were described as unsophisticated in nature.
Despite their inoperability, Seraphin emphasized that such devices, even in their primitive state, could still be considered weapons of mass destruction. “Whenever you have the ingredients together, even though you’re too incompetent to actually make it go off or wire it, it probably still qualifies as a weapon of mass destruction, even if it’s the tiniest little pipe bomb,” he explained.
The FBI, ATF, and MPD quickly went to the scene after pipe bombs were found, leading to an evacuation of the RNC and DNC buildings. Bomb technicians later disabled the devices. The FBI is now investigating who placed the bombs and why.
The finding of the pipe bombs heightened tensions surrounding the Capitol riot, which took place the following day. This riot involved a group of people who supported then-President Donald Trump and resulted in them storming the U.S. Capitol building, disrupting the certification process for the 2020 Presidential election.
Seraphin uncovered another concerning issue regarding the way suspects were identified. According to him, authorities traced the card linked to the devices, but it was bought by someone other than the person caught using it. This inconsistency brings into question the investigation’s attention to detail and the possible leads that were missed as a result.
Seraphin expressed disappointment with the outcome of the case, stating, “I don’t know what they [eventually] did on that case, but I know that it was BS and the bombs were BS, and it seems like they had a good lead, and they could have run it down. But as far as I know, they never did.”
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