Better late than never, right? Who knows, but the elusive would-be pipe bomber who placed devices outside of the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic National Committees before the January 6 riot five years ago might have been caught. The FBI arrested a suspect, a man, in Virginia this morning. We don't know his name or have any other details. He's reportedly being arraigned later today.
🚨🚨BIG NEWS from the @FBI this morning - the J6 pipe bomb suspect arrested is a man - so it appears to undermine earlier reports of a woman Capitol Police officer being the perpetrator.
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) December 4, 2025
Stay tuned… https://t.co/ndGX3mAVCK
BREAKING: Colleague @davidspunt reports the FBI has arrested the suspect believed to be behind the planting of pipe bombs at the DNC & RNC headquarters in DC on January 5th, 2021. Suspect is a male living in Virginia. Arrested early this morning in VA.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) December 4, 2025
BREAKING via @CBSNews: FBI has arrested a man suspected of placing pipe bombs outside RNC and DNC headquarters on the eve of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. via @MacFarlaneNews @dklaidman and me
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) December 4, 2025
#BREAKING: The FBI arrests someone in connection to the Jan 6th D.C. pipe bombs.
— Insider Wire (@InsiderWire) December 4, 2025
BREAKING: Virginia man arrested in connection with pipe bombs placed outside DNC and RNC headquarters on January 5, 2021 - ABC
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 4, 2025
--> WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI makes arrest in investigation into pipe bombs placed in DC on eve of Jan. 6 riot, AP source says.
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) December 4, 2025
NEWS: We’ve confirmed reports that there’s been an arrest in connection with the Jan. 6 pipe bombs. The man is expected to appear in court later today. https://t.co/4QcTf1xY08
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 4, 2025
This story turned into one of frustration and mockery. The bureau couldn’t find this person. After years of investigation, the suspect’s height was the only notable development to date. There were reports that a former Capitol Police officer, a female, might be the suspect. Still, that story has seemingly collapsed, the gender difference being the least of it; this individual provided video evidence for her alibi.
Federal authorities made their 1st arrest in connection with two pipe bombs that were planted outside DNC and RNC on eve of US Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, sources familiar with the matter told @MacFarlaneNews and me. The man's arrest marks a major step forward in a case that…
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) December 4, 2025
More from the Associated Press:
🚨BREAKING: The FBI has ARRESTED the 2021 DC Pipe Bomb Suspect.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 4, 2025
He is a 5'7 man from Virginia. Name will be announced later today. pic.twitter.com/FFSMPibTk6
The official who described the arrest was not authorized to publicly discuss a case that has not yet been made public and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The arrest took place Thursday morning, and the suspect is a man, the official said. No other details were immediately available, including the charges the man might face.
The pipe bombs were placed on the evening of Jan. 5, 2021, near the offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees in the District of Columbia. Nobody was hurt before the bombs were rendered safe, but the FBI has said both devices could have been lethal.
[…]
Seeking a breakthrough, the FBI last January publicized additional information about the investigation, including an estimate that the suspect was about 5-foot-7, as well as previously unreleased video of the suspect placing one of the bombs.
This is a developing news story. We’ll keep you updated.
Good question:
So many questions about why the Trump FBI was able to track this guy down while the Biden FBI kinda just pretended the whole thing never happened. https://t.co/GJi9zhUu7v
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 4, 2025