Capitol Police Chief Stephen Sund on the January 6th Pipe Bomber Investigation

The Pipe Bomber Investigation as an Operation

• 🎯 The Capitol Police Chief believes the pipe bomb placement was an operation designed to distract and divert resources away from the Capitol.
• 💡 The identical construction of the two pipe bombs suggests a deliberate plan, with their placement intended for easy identification and location.
• ⏳ The prolonged delay in identifying the perpetrator is concerning, leading to speculation and the filling of information gaps with theories.

Analysis of the Pipe Bombs

• 🔬 The pipe bombs were constructed with galvanized steel pipes and end caps, appearing to be pipe bombs with a timing device.
• ⚠️ While designed to look like pipe bombs, the analysis suggests they may not have been packed with enough black powder for maximum lethality, possibly indicating they were intended to be detected rather than cause significant damage.
• ❓ Questions remain about the operability and the timing mechanism, particularly how a 60-minute timer could be set on July 5th for January 6th.

Impact on Security Posture

• ⚡ The identification of the first pipe bomb at 12:42 p.m. occurred just 11 minutes before the riot escalated on the west front, severely impacting the security posture.
• 🚨 The discovery of a second pipe bomb led to a cascading effect, requiring officers to search the entire campus, depleting already limited perimeter resources.
• ⚠️ This depletion of resources is cited as a reason for requesting National Guard support prior to and on January 6th.

Theories and Lack of Answers

• 🔍 Theories suggest a Capitol Police officer may have been involved in planting the bombs as part of a larger conspiracy, with reports from individuals like Steve Baker providing evidence.
• 🗣️ The Chief emphasizes the need for facts and evidence from law enforcement agencies to either confirm or refute these theories, rather than relying on press releases or articles.
• ⏳ The extended wait for official statements fuels public speculation and concern, with the Chief advocating for swift clearance of any innocent individuals.

Nancy Pelosi's Role and Denied Requests

• 🚫 The Chief details repeated denials from Nancy Pelosi's office for critical resources, including National Guard support, even when the Pentagon offered assistance.
• ⏳ It took 71 minutes and nine calls to finally receive approval for assistance after the attack began.
• 🏛️ A subsequent change in law, requiring the Chief to go through Congress for resource authorization, is seen as an admission of guilt by those in power.

Questions for Nancy Pelosi

• ❓ The Chief has specific questions for Nancy Pelosi regarding her office's communication with Paul Irving (her representative to the Capitol Police Board) and the information she received in advance of January 6th.
• ℹ️ He questions what intelligence Pelosi had, especially given General Mark Milley's regular contact with her.
• 🔒 The exclusion of Speaker Pelosi's phone records and testimony from the original January 6th committee is viewed as concerning for a thorough investigation.

Concerns Regarding Kamala Harris's Secret Service

• 🧐 The behavior of Kamala Harris's Secret Service detail, who reportedly finished their lunches and showed no urgency after being notified of a pipe bomb nearby, is described as very concerning and outside of protocol.
• 🚨 Standard protocol for suspicious devices involves immediate perimeter setup, evacuation, and protection of the dignitary, none of which appeared to be happening.

Final Thoughts on the Investigation

• ⏳ After 58 months, the Chief believes the investigation needs to restart from square one to get answers, especially regarding the pipe bomber's identity.
• ❓ The inability to identify the pipe bomber, despite having significant information, raises concerns and fuels conspiracy theories.
• ✨ Reinvigorating the investigation with renewed attention is hoped to lead to proper resolution and closure.