WASHINGTON—On Tuesday, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) sent a letter to U.S. Secret Service Director James Murray regarding the Secret Service’s protection of then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on January 6, 2021. According to reports, Harris was at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters the morning of January 6, 2021. Prior to her arrival at the DNC headquarters, the Secret Service reportedly swept the areas in and around that location. However, they apparently did not discover a pipe bomb that had been reportedly placed there the night before. 

“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,” the senator wrote.

The senator raised a number of questions regarding Secret Service’s activities on January 6, 2021.  This letter is a continuation of the senator’s extensive review of events that occurred before, during, and after the U.S. Capitol breach. 

See coverage of Sen. Johnson’s letter in Fox News.

Read the full text of the letter here and below:

February 15, 2022

Mr. James M. Murray

Director

U.S. Secret Service

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]

Security footage of pipe bomb suspect sitting on bench outside DNC headquarters on Jan. 5, 2021[7]

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

1. 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?
2. 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]
3. 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.
4. 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,

Ron Johnson

United States Senator

cc:          The Honorable Christopher A. Wray       

              Director

              Federal Bureau of Investigation

              The Honorable Joseph V. Cuffari

              Inspector General