FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino Clashes With Rep. Massie Over J6 Pipe Bomb Whistleblower Claims
A heated exchange this week highlights ongoing frustrations over the still-unsolved January 6 pipe bomb case
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino fired back hard at Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) this week after the congressman suggested the bureau was targeting a whistleblower in the January 6 pipe bomb investigation.
The Controversy Erupts
On November 13, 2025, Massie shared what he called a "troubling letter" on social media from an attorney representing an FBI whistleblower. The letter alleged that the FBI's Washington Field Office was scheduling a meeting with the apparent intent of identifying the whistleblower who had made protected disclosures about the pipe bomb investigation.
Bongino's Furious Response
Deputy Director Bongino didn't hold back in his response. In a detailed post with screenshots, he revealed that he'd personally called Massie that morning and offered him an in-person briefing on the case—an offer Massie apparently declined.
Then came the hammer:
What's Behind the Frustration?
Bongino defended the new FBI leadership's efforts on the case, stating that investigating the January 6 pipe bomber was "one of our first initiatives" when he and Director Kash Patel took office. According to Bongino, the bureau has:
- Brought in new personnel to review the case
- Flown in police officers and detectives to examine FBI work
- Conducted multiple reviews of evidence
- Pursued recent leads intensively
However, Bongino insisted the media reporting on the investigation has been "grossly inaccurate."
The Blaze Investigation and FBI Whistleblower Claims
The controversy intensified after The Blaze published an investigation on November 8, 2025, claiming to have identified a suspect in the pipe bomb case through forensic gait analysis. The outlet commissioned software analysis that allegedly produced a 94-98% match to a former Capitol Police officer.
Following that report, a new FBI whistleblower came forward with explosive allegations. According to a protected disclosure filed by attorney Kurt Siuzdak, the whistleblower—an FBI supervisory special agent still at the bureau—made a stunning claim:
Former FBI Agent: "We Were Deliberately Pulled Away"
Former FBI Special Agent Kyle Seraphin, who worked on the case, told The Blaze he realized he had been conducting surveillance next door to a woman now suspected of being the pipe bomber.
According to the whistleblower disclosure, the FBI had already determined that a male "Person of Interest 3" should be interviewed by agents. His female next-door neighbor had been photographed by the FBI surveillance team, and "her photograph and attire are similar to the individual who [allegedly] placed the devices." However, when Seraphin proposed conducting a "knock and talk" interview at the man's door—which "would have obviously led to the doorstep of the 'neighbor'"—the idea was rejected and agents were immediately reassigned.
The Unsolved Mystery
The pipe bomb case remains one of the most puzzling aspects of January 6. According to the FBI, an unknown suspect placed pipe bombs near both the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021—the night before the Capitol riot.
A House Oversight Subcommittee report released on January 2, 2025, raised serious questions about the investigation. Key findings included:
- The FBI identified multiple persons of interest in the early weeks but has made no arrests after nearly four years
- Conflicting accounts emerged about cellular data—a former FBI official claimed carriers provided "corrupted" data that might have contained the bomber's identity, but the carriers denied this
- The Secret Service failed to detect one device during security sweeps, allowing VP-elect Kamala Harris's motorcade to arrive at the DNC
The FBI continues to offer a $500,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's identification.
The Political Dimension
The dispute comes at a sensitive time. Massie has recently clashed with the Trump administration over his push to release full government files on Jeffrey Epstein, and some observers suggest this pipe bomb controversy is part of a broader political battle.
Bongino concluded his rebuke with this statement:
Unanswered Questions
Four years after the incident, critical questions remain:
- Why has no suspect been identified despite extensive early investigative efforts?
- Were FBI agents really ordered to stand down when they were close to a suspect, as the whistleblower claims?
- What happened to the various persons of interest the FBI identified initially?
- Was the investigation properly prioritized given the potential threat?
- Will the new FBI leadership under Patel and Bongino finally crack the case?
What do you think? Is this a legitimate investigation being undermined by political grandstanding, or are there valid concerns about how the case has been handled? The contradicting accounts from whistleblowers, The Blaze investigation, and FBI officials suggest there's much more to this story than we've been told.
Related Links:
- FBI Wanted Poster - J6 Pipe Bomber
- The Blaze Investigation
- House Oversight Report on J6 Pipe Bombs (January 2025)
- Dan Bongino's Full Statement on X
What are your thoughts on this controversy? Share in the comments below.
