Nearly five years after pipe bombs were planted near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters, a controversial investigative report has reignited scrutiny over the unsolved case, alleging a former U.S. Capitol Police officer as the perpetrator. The devices, discovered on January 6, 2021, amid the Capitol riot, diverted law enforcement resources during a critical moment as Congress certified the 2020 election results.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and face mask, placing the first bomb around 7:54 p.m. on January 5 near a bench outside the DNC. The second device was planted at approximately 8:16 p.m. in an alley near the RNC. The bombs, described by the FBI as viable threats intended to harm civilians, were found between 12:40 p.m. and 1:05 p.m. the next day, just as the Capitol breach unfolded. Allegations suggest the suspect may have replaced a malfunctioning device early on January 6, based on analysis of alternative sites near the Congressional Black Caucus Institute.
Blaze Media’s report, by investigative journalist Steve Baker, claims Shauni Rae Kerkhoff, a 5’7″ former Capitol Police officer with a slight limp from a 2015 soccer injury, matches the suspect with a high degree of certainty via gait analysis. Kerkhoff, who served in the Civil Disturbance Unit and later joined CIA security, has not been charged, and authorities have not confirmed the findings.
Speculation on motive centers on creating a distraction to frame Trump supporters as extremists, potentially as a government hoax tied to election narratives.
If convicted, justice could involve terrorism charges, probes into accomplices, and agency accountability, with the FBI’s $500,000 reward emphasizing urgency. A confirmation might dismantle the “insurrection” storyline, exposing potential federal involvement and prompting election-related reinvestigations. The FBI’s investigation remains active, with recent footage releases yielding no breakthroughs.