“Examining the Investigation into the DNC and RNC Pipe Bombs”

1[House Hearing, 119 Congress]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                    EXAMINING THE INVESTIGATION INTO5                       THE DNC AND RNC PIPE BOMBS6=======================================================================78                                HEARING910                               BEFORE THE1112                   SELECT SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE13                        THE REMAINING QUESTIONS14                      SURROUNDING JANUARY 6, 20211516                                 OF THE1718                       COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY1920                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES2122                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2324                             SECOND SESSION2526                               __________2728                      WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 20262930                               __________3132                           Serial No. 119-503334                               __________3536         Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary3738[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]3940               Available via: http://judiciary.house.gov4142                                __________4344                   U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE4562-624                    WASHINGTON : 202646-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4748                       COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY4950                        JIM JORDAN, Ohio, Chair5152DARRELL ISSA, California             JAMIE RASKIN, Maryland, Ranking53ANDY BIGGS, Arizona                      Member54TOM McCLINTOCK, California           JERROLD NADLER, New York55THOMAS P. TIFFANY, Wisconsin         ZOE LOFGREN, California56THOMAS MASSIE, Kentucky              STEVE COHEN, Tennessee57CHIP ROY, Texas                      HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, Jr.,58SCOTT FITZGERALD, Wisconsin              Georgia59BEN CLINE, Virginia                  ERIC SWALWELL, California60LANCE GOODEN, Texas                  TED LIEU, California61JEFFERSON VAN DREW, New Jersey       PRAMILA JAYAPAL, Washington62TROY E. NEHLS, Texas                 J. LUIS CORREA, California63BARRY MOORE, Alabama                 MARY GAY SCANLON, Pennsylvania64KEVIN KILEY, California              JOE NEGUSE, Colorado65HARRIET M. HAGEMAN, Wyoming          LUCY McBATH, Georgia66LAUREL M. LEE, Florida               DEBORAH K. ROSS, North Carolina67WESLEY HUNT, Texas                   BECCA BALINT, Vermont68RUSSELL FRY, South Carolina          JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA, Illinois69GLENN GROTHMAN, Wisconsin            SYDNEY KAMLAGER-DOVE, California70BRAD KNOTT, North Carolina           JARED MOSKOWITZ, Florida71MARK HARRIS, North Carolina          DANIEL S. GOLDMAN, New York72ROBERT F. ONDER, Jr., Missouri       JASMINE CROCKETT, Texas73DEREK SCHMIDT, Kansas74BRANDON GILL, Texas75MICHAEL BAUMGARTNER, Washington76                                 ------7778            SELECT SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE REMAINING79                 QUESTIONS SURROUNDING JANUARY 6, 20218081                    BARRY LOUDERMILK, Georgia, Chair8283H. MORGAN GRIFFITH, Virginia         ERIC SWALWELL, California, Ranking84TROY NEHLS, Texas                        Member85HARRIET M. HAGEMAN, Wyoming          JASMINE CROCKETT, Texas86CLAY HIGGINS, Louisiana              JARED MOSKOWITZ, Florida8788               CHRISTOPHER HIXON, Majority Staff Director89                ARTHUR EWENCZYK, Minority Staff Director9091                            C O N T E N T S9293                              ----------9495                      Wednesday, January 14, 20269697                           OPENING STATEMENTS9899                                                                   Page100The Honorable Barry Loudermilk, Chair of the Select Subcommittee101  to Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding January 6,102  2021, from the State of Georgia................................     1103The Honorable Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on104  the Judiciary from the State of Maryland.......................     4105106                               WITNESSES107108Christopher M. Piehota, Principal Consultant, Deep Water Point &109  Associates110  Oral Testimony.................................................     8111  Prepared Testimony.............................................    10112Thomas Anthony Speciale, II, Senior Advisor, Intelligence and113  National Security Alliance114  Oral Testimony.................................................    13115  Prepared Testimony.............................................    16116John Nantz, Contributing Writer, Townhall Media117  Oral Testimony.................................................    19118  Prepared Testimony.............................................    21119Michael J. Romano, Counsel, Lichten & Liss Riordan120  Oral Testimony.................................................    23121  Prepared Testimony.............................................    25122123          LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC. SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING124125All materials submitted for the record by the Select Subcommittee126  To Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding January 6,127  2021, are listed below.........................................    57128129Materials submitted by the Honorable Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member130  of the Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Maryland,131  for the record132    A statement Pamela Hemphill, convicted criminal for January133        6, 2021134    An article enitled, ``Former Pentagon chief: Trump gave no135        order to prepare troops before Jan. 6,'' Jul. 27, 2022,136        The Hill137    A fact check entitled, ``Pelosi did not block the National138        Guard from the Capitol on Jan. 6,'' Jul. 23, 2021,139        Associated Press140    An article entitled, ``Trump Forgets He Was President During141        Capitol Riot, Blames `THE BIDEN FBI' for Jan. 6 in Dead-142        of-Night Post,'' Oct. 12, 2025, Yahoo143    A report entitled, ``One Year Later: Assessing the Public144        Safety Implications of President Trump's Mass Pardons of145        1,600 January 6th Rioters and Insurrectionists,'' Jan.146        2026, Staff Report, Democrat, Committee on the Judiciary147    An article entitled, ``Trump May Have Accidentally Pardoned148        the Jan. 6 Pipe Bomber,'' Jun. 6, 2026, Politico149    A page entitled, ``District of Columbia National Guard >150        About Us,'' District of Columbia National Guard151    The document 18 U.S.C. 2384--Seditious conspiracy, Legal152        Information Institute, Cornell Law School153    An opinion Republican National Committee v. Nancy Pelosi, the154        United States District Court for the District of155        Columbia, Civil Action No. 22-659 (TJK), May 1, 2022156An article entitled, ``Trump Impeached for Inciting Insurrection:157  President Trump became the first president to be impeached158  twice, after the House approved a single charge citing his role159  in whipping up a mob that stormed the Capitol. He faces a160  Senate trial that could disqualify him from future office,''161  Apr. 22, 2021, The New York Times, submitted by the Honorable162  Jasmine Crockett, a Member of the Select Subcommittee to163  Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding January 6,164  2021, from the State of Texas, for the record165Materials submitted by the Honorable Clay Higgins, a Member of166  the Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions167  Surrounding January 6, 2021, from the State of Louisiana, for168  the record169    A letter to the Hon. David Pekoske, Administrator,170        Transportation Security Administration, from the Bennie171        G. Thompson, Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security172        from the State of Mississippi, and John Katko, former173        Ranking Member of the of the Committee on Homeland174        Security from the State of New York, Jan. 11, 2021175    The Grand Jury indictment, United States of America v. Brian176        J. Cole, Jr., in the United States District Court, the177        District of Columbia, Dec. 16, 2025178Materials submitted by the Honorable Troy Nehls, a Member of the179  Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions180  Surrounding January 6, 2021, from the State of Texas, for the181  record182    An article entitled, ``Biggest investigation in FBI history183        still has Merrick Garland in the hot seat,'' Jan. 5,184        2022, CNN185    An article entitled, ``Trump is elected 47th president,186        soundly defeating Harris to retake White House,'' Nov. 6,187        2024, Los Angeles Times188Materials submitted by the Honorable Barry Loudermilk, Chair of189  the Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions190  Surrounding January 6, 2021, from the State of Georgia, for the191  record192    A press release entitled, ``Governor Pritzker's Sanctuary193        Illinois Released More than 1,700 Criminal Illegal Aliens194        Including Murderers, Pedophiles, and Kidnappers,'' Dec.195        8, 2025, Department of Homeland Security196    A press release entitled, ``Sanctuary New York Released197        Nearly 7,000 Criminal Illegal Aliens Including Murderers,198        Terrorists, and Sexual Predators,'' Dec. 1, 2025,199        Department of Homeland Security200    A press release entitled, ``Transcripts Show President201        Trump's Directives to Pentagon Leadership to `Keep202        January 6 Safe' Were Deliberately Ignored,'' Sept. 20,203        2024, Committee on House Administration204    An article entitled, ``Pelosi admits blame for `stupidity' in205        Jan. 6 security failures in newly released video: `I take206        full responsibility,' '' Aug. 28, 2024, New York Post207208                    EXAMINING THE INVESTIGATION INTO209                       THE DNC AND RNC PIPE BOMBS210211                              ----------212213                      Wednesday, January 14, 2026214215                        House of Representatives216217                 Select Subcommittee To Investigate the218219            Remaining Questions Surrounding January 6, 2021220221                       Committee on the Judiciary222223                             Washington, DC224225    The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:23 p.m., in226Room 2141, Rayburn House Office Building, the Hon. Barry227Loudermilk [Chair of the Subcommittee] presiding.228    Present: Representatives Loudermilk, Griffith, Higgins,229Nehls, Hageman, Crockett, Moskowitz, and Raskin.230    Mr. Loudermilk. The hearing will now come to order.231    Welcome, everyone, to the first hearing of the Select232Subcommittee To Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding233the January 6, 2021, events, entitled ``Examining the234Investigation into the DNC and RNC Pipe Bombs.'' Thank you,235Ranking Member Raskin and the Members of the Select Committee236and witnesses, for joining us here today.237    I note that a quorum is present. Without objection, the238Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time.239    I'll now recognize myself for an opening statement.240    I've been investigating the remaining questions surrounding241January 6th for three years. When this particular Subcommittee242was formed in September of last year, I directed my team that243oversight of the FBI's investigation to the DNC and RNC pipe244bombs would be a top priority.245    In many ways, the bizarre constellation of facts246surrounding the discovery of the pipe bombs is emblematic of247the many unresolved questions about January 6th that remain248today.249    What information did Federal law enforcement have, when did250they have it, and what did they do with it?251    How did the Joe Biden and Merrick Garland's Department of252Justice prioritize the apprehension and prosecution of253Americans trespassing on restricted Capitol Grounds relative to254the apprehension of the pipe bomber?255    How is it that the Biden-Wray FBI was able to flawlessly256execute a cellular dragnet to capture the information and257eventually apprehend those trespassing at the Capitol, but258failed to exercise the same investigative technique into the259pipe bomber?260    How is it that the Democrat-controlled Select Committee to261investigate January 6th managed to write a final report in262which they cover more than 700 pages and eight chapters without263ever mentioning the pipe bombs until an appendix in the back of264the report.265    Was information related to the pipe bombs part of the more266than one terabyte of information that the Select Committee267failed to retain, and in some cases deleted from computers just268days before the Republicans took over the Majority in 2023?269    These questions and many more remain unanswered.270    The significance of the pipe bombs and how the events of271January 6th unfolded cannot be overstated. The evidence272suggests that the pipe bombs' discovery diverted significant273law enforcement attention and resources away from the Capitol274at the exact time they were needed most.275    It's hard to comprehend why both the Wray FBI and the276Select Committee, despite their shared zeal for bringing to277justice those who trespassed at the Capitol, have shown little278effort or interest regarding the pipe bombs.279    As a quick refresher, at 17:49 p.m. on January 5, 2021, a280suspect placed a pipe bomb next to a bench beside the Democrat281National Committee headquarters building, then placed a second282device in an alley near the RNC. Fortunately, neither pipe bomb283detonated.284    After laying in plain sight for nearly 17 hours, both285devices were independently discovered on January 6th within a286few minutes of the vote to certify the election results.287    On January 6th, at 1:05 p.m., Capital Police responded to a288pipe bomb reported at the RNC and at the same time that289protesters began surging outside the Capitol and the290legislators prepared to certify the vote. The Capitol Police291Chief had to split his team, sending significant resources to292handle two pipe bomb incidents.293    In addition to diverting resources away from the Capitol,294the security perimeter set up around the DNC due to the295discovery of the pipe bomb prevented Capitol Police from296receiving the delivery of an additional 400 bike racks that had297been requested to serve as protective barriers.298    The urgent need for 400 bike racks arose after nearly 500299racks were unexpectedly removed from the Capitol on the evening300of January 5th. The removal of these bikes were, according to301Valerie Hasberry, who was the Chief Security Officer for the302Architect of the Capitol, she said this was absolutely303illogical.304    The discovery of the pipe bombs on January 6th further305disrupted efforts to establish those boundaries and strained306security resources.307    The placement and timing of the pipe bombs' discovery308proved critical in blurring the lines between public space and309restricted Capitol Grounds and therefore made it easier for310protestors to enter the Capitol Building on January 6th.311    The Biden-Garland Department of Justice boasted that the312Wray FBI pursued their investigations of Americans following313the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, with, quote314``unprecedented speed and scale.''315    We now know that for 47 out of Joe Biden's 48 months in316office, the Wray FBI held in its possession the critical317evidence identifying Brian Cole, Jr., as the pipe bomber, but318failed to make any progress on the case.319    In contrast, in October 2025, the Patel FBI put together a320designated Red Team consisting of law enforcement officers from321outside the FBI. Within six weeks of its creation, the Red Team322identified Brian Cole, Jr., as a suspect using material and323evidence the FBI had in its possession since February 2021.324    On December 4, 2025, four years, 11 months, and two days325after the event, the Patel FBI arrested Cole for allegedly326planting the pipe bombs.327    The FBI operational updates and internal after-action328report paint a dismal picture of the Wray FBI's investigation329of the bombs.330    While there is evidence showing that some resources were331dedicated to the investigation, there is also evidence that332critical components of the investigation were slow-walked, and333then resources were cut just two months in.334    For example, CAST, the Cell Analysis Team, reported, quote,335``difficulties in getting the Washington Field Office to accept336help, deployment delayed.''337    Then, on February 26, 2020, the FBI noted that the338Washington Field Office's pipe bomb investigation team was339quote, ``expected to decrease in the coming weeks.'' At the340same time, the FBI was diverting resources from the case.341    Given the significant evidence against Cole in multiple342categories, it is difficult to understand how he was not343identified as a suspect in the Spring 2021. Why did it take a344team of non-FBI personnel who reexamined the evidence to345develop Cole as a suspect? Was this merely incompetence? If so,346what can be done to better equip our FBI?347    The Wray FBI's failure to act on the evidence in their348possession demands thorough examination. Additionally, there349are still critical details regarding this case that must be350understood.351    First, what was the pipe bomb suspect doing on the phone352during the course of planting the devices? Does this activity353implicate any other suspects?354    Second, on January 2025, my team issued a report that355discussed the FBI's investigation into a computer search356conducted after the pipe bombs were planted, but before they357were discovered, a search that read: ``Pipe bombs, D.C.'' Was358this Cole?359    If so, this is another key piece of evidence tied to Cole360that was overlooked. If not, is the person who conducted that361search tied to Cole?362    Additionally, the FBI operational updates note two363eyewitnesses who described the gray hoodie suspect as a White364male. Did this influence the FBI's investigation?365    Today, we hope our witnesses will shed light on the FBI366investigative protocol to help us begin to unravel what went so367wrong with the Wray FBI's management of this case.368    I now recognize the Ranking Member, Mr. Raskin, for an369opening statement.370    Mr. Raskin. Well, thank you very kindly, Mr. Chair. Thanks371to our witnesses for joining us.372    I would like to begin by offering appreciation to the men373and women of the FBI who apprehended the January 6th pipe bomb374suspect. This has been a rare bright spot for Federal law375enforcement over the last year.376    I also want to thank the Capitol officers who defended us377with such valor and such courage on January 6th, who defended378the Members of the House, the Senate, our staffs, and everyone379else who was caught up in the siege against the Capitol in the380attempt to overthrow the 2020 Presidential election.381    Those officers continue to defend us and continue to endure382the abuse of the January 6th insurrectionists. Check out this383video from what just happened last week on January 6th.384    [Video shown.]385    Mr. Raskin. The abuse of our officers continues, just as386the plaque, which was passed overwhelmingly by Congress to be387installed in the Capitol complex, has still not been put up by388Speaker Johnson.389    Now, of course, the prosecution of Brian Cole, the pipe390bomb suspect, remains ongoing. The full facts of the case have391not yet emerged. Under our criminal justice system, of course,392he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This hearing is at393best premature. I hope certainly it does nothing to recklessly394endanger the prosecution of Mr. Cole.395    Here is what we do know. We know that Brian Cole voted for396Donald Trump twice. We know that in his own words he was397inspired and incited by Donald Trump's big lie, the pathetic398lie that the 2020 election had been stolen, a lie that has been399debunked and repudiated by more than 60 different Federal and400State court decisions across the land in every court that's401looked at it, and of course was rejected by the Congress of the402United States as well.403    Mr. Cole told investigators he was in D.C. because he was404going to protest in support of Donald Trump. He told the FBI405that he believed the narrative that Trump had spread that the406election was indeed tampered with, quote, ``Someone needs to407speak up, right?''408    Well, like the thousands of Trump supporters who stormed409the Capitol on January 6th, Mr. Cole did something more than410just speak up. He set what the FBI concluded were viable411explosive devices on Capitol Hill, near feet away from where412thousands of people lived and worked and dropped their kids off413at daycare.414    It is only due to the heroic actions of the Capitol Police415and a watchful bystander that these devices were discovered and416disarmed.417    Make no mistake, Mr. Cole's political goals appear to have418been no different than those of the Proud Boys, the Oath419Keepers, and hundreds of cop beaters and rioters who stormed420the Capitol--to foment violence on that day, to terrorize the421police, but most of all, to stop the steal and overturn the422election that was certified in the United States of America423with Joe Biden defeating Donald Trump by more than seven424million votes, 306-232 in the electoral college.425    There are only two real differences between the pipe bomber426and the rioters.427    First, unlike so many of the rioters, Mr. Cole was428thankfully unsuccessful in his efforts to injure law429enforcement and innocent people on that day.430    Second, unlike the other rioters, it has not yet been431determined whether Mr. Cole actually got a pardon from Donald432Trump. Trump granted a, quote, ``full, complete, and433unconditional pardon to all individuals convicted of offenses434related to events that occurred at or near the United States435Capitol on January 6, 2021.''436    Mr. Cole, if convicted, would he be covered by this437unprecedented corrupt pardon offered by Donald Trump, who438incited the insurrection against the Union? Well, Mr. Cole's439lawyer definitely seems to think so.440    President Trump and his DOJ have already attempted to441legitimize violence against the police on that day. Is it their442position that the pardon extends to Mr. Cole as someone who was443involved in the events that occurred near the Capitol, or is it444a position that it's OK to beat police officers with445Confederate battle flags, Donald Trump flags, American flags,446tase them, haze them, vilify them, demonize them, taunt them,447trample them, kick them, and punch them, but they draw the line448at planting an explosive device? I would be very interested to449know the answer to that.450    It's been obvious for quite some time the pipe bomber was451motivated by the same lies and violent rhetoric as everybody452else who followed Donald Trump's orders on that day. To avoid453that reality, Republicans have deployed conspiracy theory after454conspiracy theory about the pipe bomber.455    Donald Trump falsely claimed the FBI knew who it was all456along.457    Dan Bongino, the former podcaster who turned former FBI458Deputy Director, who recently quit for mysterious reasons, told459us that this was a setup. He said it was an inside job.460    Just a few months ago, the Blaze wrote a ludicrous article461pinning the pipe bombs on an innocent Capitol Police Officer on462the basis of how she walked, which unsurprisingly was quickly463exposed for the pure concoction it was.464    That did not stop multiple Republican Members of Congress--465including, I'm afraid to say, you, Mr. Chair, at least I'm466told, although I haven't seen what you said directly--but467certainly multiple Members of Congress promoted the article and468its authors, and the false and dangerous idea that it was a469former Capitol Policer Officer who planted those bombs, an idea470that continues to fester in the deepest and darkest corners of471the extremist internet.472    Mr. Chair, I think that the Capitol Police officer deserves473an apology from any Member of Congress who participated in that474particular lie and conspiracy theory.475    These conspiracy theories have finally been debunked, but476they've not been put to rest. We're here as part of the477``Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions478Surrounding January 6, 2021.''479    Since the identity and motivation of the pipe bomber had480been long one of the last question marks remaining, I am481interested to know what are the remaining questions, because482we've got a bunch of answers, but I certainly have some483questions remaining.484    One question I've got is: Why is it that those who pushed485the big lie and tried to steal the election and participated in486the riots at the Capitol, from Ed Martin to Heather Honey to487Jared Wise and Jeffrey Clark, why are they now holding488positions of power and influence in this administration?489    We should also be holding a hearing on how Donald Trump490pardoned the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, and other felons for491violently assaulting hundreds of police officers against the492wishes of more than 80 percent of the American people who493reject those pardons.494    What have been the public safety implications of those495pardons? How about a hearing on the 33 pardoned rioters who496have since gone on to commit other felony crimes, including497possession of child pornography, rape, conspiracy to commit498murder of FBI agents, kidnapping, sexual assault, aggravated499robbery, reckless homicide, and so many more? How about a500hearing on that?501    How about a hearing on why the Speaker refuses to put up a502plaque that by law was supposed to have been posted in 2023 in503honor of the police officers who defended us?504    How about a hearing on why, unlike Ashli Babbitt's family,505which got a handsome $5 million payout, even after two506government investigations determined that the police had acted507reasonably and appropriately in her case, how about a hearing508on why the 140 officers who were injured on that day and the509five officers who died in the days that followed, including510officer Brian Sicknick and his family, why have they received511nothing, not one penny, not one dollar, and Ashli Babbitt's512family got $5 million, even though there was no finding of any513culpability on the part of the government? How about a hearing514on that?515    How about a hearing on whether we've done justice to the516police officers who defended us on that day? How about a517hearing on that, Mr. Chair?518    Well, nothing that can be said around the edges of this519nightmare is ever going to take away or erase the indelible520truth of what happened. The President, not being able to handle521his loss by more than seven million votes in the Presidential522election, used every means at his disposal to try to overturn523the election, to concoct fraudulent electoral slates, to try to524get the Department of Justice to just say the election was525corrupt and leave the rest to me and my Republican friends in526Congress to try to force the Vice President of the United527States, Mike Pence, to assert powers he didn't have to reject528the electoral college votes and then to unleash a mob of529thousands of people to attack Congress.530    That's the reality. Nobody's laid a glove on a single531sentence in the report of the January 6th Select Committee. Not532one.533    I defy anyone to challenge that statement. I would love to534see someone show how anything we have found has been535contradicted. Nothing. Not Presidential firings and demotions536of devoted civil servants, like all the DOJ lawyers and FBI537agents who've been sacked and demoted, not the Presidential538pardons. Not all the tweets about how this was a day of love.539Nothing will ever Whitewash the indelible facts of that day.540    Mr. Chair, I thank you for your indulgence, and I yield541back to you.542    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman yields.543    Without objection, all other Members' opening statements544will be made part of the hearing record if they are submitted545to the Committee clerk by 5:00 p.m. today.546    I'd now like to introduce today's witnesses that are here547to testify on the FBI's investigation into the pipe bomb.548    Mr. Chris Piehota is a former FBI Senior Executive549Official, serving over 25 years in the Bureau in various senior550positions, including as an Executive Assistant Director and a551special agent in charge.552    Accordingly, he is well-equipped to provide insight into553the FBI's protocol for handling cases like the investigation554into the pipe bombs.555    Mr. Piehota currently delivers strategic guidance and556advice regarding national security matters, cyber operations,557security practices, risk mitigation, and more.558    Mr. Thomas Speciale is a former Senior Advisor to the559Director of National Intelligence at the United States National560Counterintelligence and Security Center.561    Mr. Speciale has also served as Senior Collection562Strategist on Domestic Terrorism at the Office of the Director563of National Intelligence.564    He is a career intelligence officer, having served across565the U.S. intelligence community in and out of uniform for over56620 years, and has a great understanding of how intelligence is567used from an operational standpoint and can help provide568insight into the intelligence failures which occurred on the5696th.570    Mr. John Nantz is a former FBI Special Agent. In total, Mr.571Nantz has served in the law enforcement community for 26 years.572He was assigned to the Miami Field Office and subsequently to573the Washington Field Office where he finished as a Supervisory574Special Agent.575    Prior to his FBI career, Mr. Nantz was a Deputy Sheriff.576Mr. Nantz's combined law enforcement experiences make him well-577suited to provide insight into the FBI's pipe bomb578investigation.579    Mr. Mike Romano is currently a Counsel at Lichten & Liss-580Riordan. Prior to his position, Mr. Romano previously served as581a prosecutor at the Department of Justice for over 17 years.582    We'll now begin by swearing in the witnesses.583    Would you please stand and raise your right hand? Do you584swear, under penalty of perjury, that the testimony you are585about to give is true and correct and to the best of your586knowledge, information, and belief, so help you God? You may be587seated.588    Let the record reflect that the witnesses have answered in589the affirmative.590    We thank you all for being here.591    Please know that your written testimony will be entered592into the record in its entirety. Accordingly, we ask that you593do summarize and complete your summary of your testimony in594five minutes.595    Please remember to turn on your microphones using the596button in front of you so that members can hear you. When you597begin to speak, the light on the timer in front of you will598turn green. After four minutes it will turn yellow. When the599red light comes on, your four minutes has expired, and we ask600that you please wrap up at that moment.601    Mr. Piehota, we'll start with you, and you may begin.602603              STATEMENT OF CHRISTOPHER M. PIEHOTA604605    Mr. Piehota. Thank you. Good afternoon, Chair Loudermilk,606Ranking Member Raskin, and the Members of the Subcommittee.607Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the Federal Bureau of608Investigation and its handling of the Capitol Hill pipe bomb609investigation. It's an honor to visit with the Committee today.610    As said, my name is Chris Piehota. I am a retired FBI agent611with nearly 25 years of experience. At the time of my612retirement, I served as an Executive Assistant Director, one of613the FBI's most senior executive roles. Prior to this role, I614served as an Assistant Director, and before that as a Special615Agent in Charge.616    During my FBI career, I was taught about and personally617developed familiarity with investigative, operational,618administrative, and leadership requirements that can and should619be met during properly executed and managed FBI operations.620    We are here today to discuss the possible circumstances621surrounding a case that cuts to the heart of public trust in622Federal law enforcement; specifically, the FBI, specifically623the placement of two viable pipe bombs outside of Democratic624and Republican National Committee headquarters, circa January6255, 2021.626    The December 4, 2025, arrest of Brian J. Cole, Jr., was a627noteworthy investigative achievement for the FBI and its law628enforcement partners.629    Unfortunately, this arrest alone is not the central issue630before this Committee. A primary issue for discussion today is631how this case remained unsolved for nearly five years, despite632indications that the FBI had decisive information in its633possession.634    There are three primary areas of consideration when looking635at the past and present FBI challenges: Culture, leadership,636and operational practices.637    We must assess the following factors to determine the FBI's638general fitness and performance in how it conducted the Capitol639Hill pipe bomb case.640    Culture. How did the FBI demand the fabled fidelity,641bravery, and integrity in all its related operations?642    In the high stakes environment present, it was plausible643that investigators inadvertently eliminated or disregarded644possible leads due to a lack of time and resources or flawed645prioritizations, a fidelity shortfall; they became overly646conservative in their approaches for fear of mistakes, a647bravery shortfall; or pursued too many leads in a surface-level648fashion to show urgency and expected progress, an integrity649shortfall.650    In the end, culture determined how the organization behaved651and performed when times were good or bad.652    Leadership environment. Leadership remains the lifeblood of653any FBI investigation, the kind of fearless, principled654leadership that demands excellence and makes no concessions655when the safety and security of the American people are at656stake.657    How did the FBI leadership set expectations and maintain658standards, preferred practices, and behaviors during this case?659What drove FBI leadership to set priorities, allocate660resources, and motivate people in this matter?661    One thing I learned over the course of my career was,662ultimately, we lead or we fail.663    Operational practices. Information volume can crush an664investigative team if not adequately resourced and prioritized.665    How did the FBI manage investigative workloads that could666have resulted in terabytes of specialized data and information667and required a small standing army to process investigative668findings in a timely, usable manner.669    Regarding other operational impacts, the presence of670additional factors, such as case ownership churn, the671reassignment of case agents, insufficient investigative skill672or experience, investigative or analytic stovepipes, and673overwhelmed administrative systems could have converged to674cause unforeseen and unrecognized investigative gaps.675    If the pipe bomb investigation was not actively led and676managed, it is no surprise that the investigation eventually677stalled.678    In closing, this discussion brings us to an important679takeaway. The Cole arrest itself appears to revalidate and680remind us of the power, effectiveness, and necessity of a681skilled, objective, apolitical, well-led FBI. However, the Cole682arrest was not born of a new strategy, it was the result of a683salvage operation.684    Salvage operations and cold case approaches will not685protect America and its people. The Cole arrest indicates that686we still have work to do in rebuilding an FBI that can687effectively meet and defeat 21st century threats and challenges688while concurrently protecting the American people and upholding689the Constitution.690    I look forward to your questions. Thank you.691    [The prepared statement of Mr. Piehota follows:]692693[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]694695    Mr. Loudermilk. Thank you, Mr. Piehota. Mr. Speciale, you696may begin.697698            STATEMENT OF THOMAS ANTHONY SPECIALE, II699700    Mr. Speciale. Thank you, Mr. Chair and the Members of the701Committee. Thank you for this invitation to speak to you and702the American people.703    I do not sit here today to speak for anybody other than704myself and my family. This is not about me. It's about every705American.706    While I have served in the military since 1987 and in the707intelligence community since 2009, I've had a unique vantage708point in this country on the issue before us.709    In the months leading up to January 6th, I served as the710Senior Intelligence Collection Strategist for Domestic711Terrorism at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). As an712intelligence collector and an analyst, I am trained to pursue713hard facts, rather than political ideology or what is714convenient.715    Everything I present here today is available on my website,716along with a more detailed statement regarding these issues.717    In late October 2020, I warned the FBI Domestic Terrorism718Task Force leadership that we should be thinking about719potential ``black swan events,'' due to the fragility that I720saw in our country, the distrust of the government, political721polarization, and an extremely volatile social environment. My722warnings were ignored, and I was labeled a domestic extremist723by my FBI joint duty assignment supervisor because I was a724supporter of President Trump.725    At the NCTC, I was fighting back against the FBI's desire726to get a Federal domestic terrorism criminal statute for727deterrence purposes, and to treat constitutionally protected728activities as a factor, not a constraint. That's KGB- and729Gestapo-like thinking.730    At the NCTC, I offered two highly classified documents, a731collection of emphasis messages and a collection posture732statement on domestic extremism, which I am happy to discuss.733    These, if declassified by Director Gabbard, would greatly734illuminate January 6th thinking on the part of the FBI and735others leading up to January 6th.736    On January 5th, in my private capacity, I stopped potential737violence on the Capitol and warned rally attendees not to fall738for a trap set by instigators and agitators to fight the739police. On January 6th, I warned attendees that I was afraid740that there would be blood in the streets--and Ashli Babbitt and741Rosanne Boyland were both dead within hours of my warnings.742    When I returned to the NCTC, I was terminated because my743FBI supervisor believed I was a domestic extremist simply for744attending the rally on January 6th.745    In July 2021, I published a White Paper where I identified746the actual causes of January 6th--a distrust of the government,747false narratives of gun violence, and a lack of government748transparency leading to conspiracy theories, many of which have749now been proven to be true.750    I have provided copies for the Congressional Record three751times. This is the third time.752    For 2\1/2\ years, the FBI, Army Counterintelligence, and753Army CID investigated me for extremist activity without any754criminal predicate. I have never even been questioned, much755less charged.756    All across the country, many citizens faced raids and757arrests for protected activities. For deterrence purposes, I758have FOIA'd the DOJ and the FBI for the 89 documents in my759eGuardian file, but they have ignored my FOIAs.760    The purpose of this hearing regarding the pipe bomb and my761core assessment regarding the FBI's failures regarding January7626th, because the FBI was singularly focused after January 6th763to prevent Donald J. Trump from becoming the President again764and to cripple, intimidate, and silence his allies and765supporters.766    They never truly pursued the pipe bomber because they were767focused on covering up lies, criminal misconduct, and election768interference--and they were hunting Trump supporters.769    In early 2022, I was a voluntary witnesses to the January7706th Investigative Committee where I offered them classified771documents, which they were--a classified briefing which they772refused, and I provided multiple documents, which they773destroyed, including my report.774    Regarding what happened on January 6th, a protective orders775have been placed on the body cam footage of many of the776officers on the Capitol that day. This must be lifted. The DOJ777has been marked these as highly restricted. That's not a778national security classification.779    Also, we need to look into the FinCEN violations. There are780people at the DOJ that I can direct you to that can speak781specifically about these abuses.782    I go into great detail about these classification abuses in783my report, as a matter of fact. It is against government784regulation, quote, ``to classify or otherwise conceal785information that is in violation of the law, or to prevent786embarrassment to a person, organization, or agency.'' The FBI787has been abusing this for decades.788    The President issued an Executive Order, reports have been789made to the President, referrals have been made to DOJ. The790result of all this weaponization has been catastrophic to the791public trust in our government, but specifically the FBI.792    Without accountability and significant reforms, many793Americans will lose complete faith in you and us. We do not794want that.795    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman's time has expired. If you796could wrap up, we'd appreciate it.797    Mr. Speciale. Yes, sir. I've made a number of suggestions798regarding reforms to the White House.799    The hardest moment in my life was not in a combat zone, it800was in my own home, sitting with my wife and my son. At one801point, I had to sit down and tell them what to do if the FBI802smashed open our door at 4 a.m. in the morning, waving rifles803around and pointing at them. Imagine having to tell your 10-804year-old son that his friends would do that.805    I remember him asking me: ``Why would your friends do806that?'' I didn't have an answer.807    I have done my part. We have done our part. We have placed808our careers, our lives, and our livelihood on the line in809service to this country, in service to all Americans, red,810blue, Brown, and White.811    We will continue to serve the Nation in accordance with our812oath. It is not an oath to our donors or a man or a party, it813is an oath to the American people, it is an oath to the814Constitution.815    Mr. Loudermilk. Thank you, Mr. Speciale.816    Mr. Speciale. Thank you for this opportunity. I look817forward to your questions.818    [The prepared statement of Mr. Speciale follows:]819820[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]821822    Mr. Loudermilk. Thank you, Mr. Speciale. Mr. Nantz, you may823begin.824825                    STATEMENT OF JOHN NANTZ826827    Mr. Nantz. Chair Loudermilk, Ranking Member Raskin, and the828Members of the Subcommittee, I would like to thank you for the829invitation to speak with you today. It's an honor to share my830perspectives derived from 26 years in law enforcement, 20 of831those as an FBI agent.832    The Biden-era FBI and DOJ presided over some of the most833controversial investigations and prosecutions in modern834history. From the January 6th investigations to the Mar-a-Lago835raid, Merrick Garland's DOJ, in concert with former FBI836Director Christopher Wray, has successfully tarnished our most837respected institutions of justice and national security with838the odious stigmas of politiciza-tion and weaponization.839    American citizens have been rightly outraged at the840inexcusable malfeasance of a relatively few senior executives.841A bifurcated FBI held highly politicized investigations in the842compartmentalized precincts of the Hoover Building, while the843vast investigative experience and far more rigorous oversight844of field agents and division-level management was in large part845circumvented, providing insulated political hacks with the846unchecked latitude to pursue political opponents.847    For instance, as documented by DOJ Inspector General848findings, the Crossfire Hurricane investigation was predicated849on a thin tissue of preposterous fictions spun by operatives of850the Clinton campaign and given the imprimatur of compromised851members of the intelligence community.852    What we witnessed during Biden-era weaponization was853appalling. I watched the events of January 6th unfold at a854Washington Field Office offsite. I was initially struck by the855peaceful and civilized conduct demonstrated by the vast856majority of protestors, which quickly devolved into disgust as857radical elements, wearing the uniform of antifa anarchists,858began a campaign of agitation and vandalism which drew a859minority of the more gullible into criminal acts.860    The Biden Administration and a complicit mainstream media861wasted no time in labeling it as an insurrection, an event to862rival September 11th, or the Confederate insurrection of the863Civil War. However, the only casualty of January 6th was an Air864Force veteran and Trump supporter, Ashli Babbitt.865    The objective was obvious: To stigmatize Republican866protests and bludgeon President Trump and his supporters with867bigoted labels such as White supremacists, White nationalist868extremists, or racially or ethnically motivated violent869extremists, or RMVE.870    This political narrative bears directly on the issue of why871Chris Wray's FBI failed to identify the pipe bomb subject. The872answer, in my opinion, isn't a sensational one. Therefore, it873has eluded most of the podcasting class. It was simply a874function of good leadership or the lack thereof.875    The Biden's FBI was directed to conduct the most sweeping876investigation in the FBI's history, absurdly, of mostly Federal877trespassers. The political narrative driven by Biden to his878Attorney General Merrick Garland was myopically focused on the879unicorn of violent White extremism.880    In simple terms, finding the pipe bomb subject was not a881priority for Wray's FBI. The incentive structure was shifted,882and FBI resources were squandered on chasing political883chimeras. The obsession with persecuting Trump supporters left884no institutional impetus to get to the bottom of the pipe885bomber mystery.886    Elections matter, and the Trump victory has paid out some887unexpected dividends. The appointment and confirmation of FBI888Director Kash Patel and the appointment of former Deputy889Director Dan Bongino has everything to do with finally890discovering who planted those viable pipe bombs at the DNC and891RNC headquarters.892    In short, Deputy Director Bongino recommitted FBI893investigative resources and assigned a group of task force894officers assembled from local and State jurisdictions.895    Combined with a new type of FBI CAST analysis, this group896of FBI agents and TFOs worked seamlessly to bring about the897identification and arrest of Brian Cole, Jr. The current898disposition of this case comes down to a simple matter of899priorities, an election of great consequence.900    Critics of Director Patel and the investigation into the901pipe bomb subject have based their allegations on the902conjecture of internet cranks, utilizing hobbyist analysis of903cell phone tower data, among other things.904    Conversely, the CAST and TFO professionals formulated new905and specifically tailored algorithms to demystify cell tower906data that had been opaque to investigators up to that point.907    In essence, we're being asked to believe that the stalwarts908of the conservative movement--Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI909Director Patel, the former Deputy Director Bongino, and the910esteemed U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro--have all911concluded to railroad an innocent man.912    The bottom line is this: President Trump's FBI got their913man by dint of good leadership. This bodes very good things for914the American people and their FBI.915    [The prepared statement of Mr. Nantz follows:]916917[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]918919    Mr. Loudermilk. Thank you, Mr. Nantz. Mr. Romano, you may920begin.921922                 STATEMENT OF MICHAEL J. ROMANO923924    Mr. Romano. Good afternoon, Chair Loudermilk, Ranking925Member Raskin, and the Members of the Subcommittee. Thank you926for the opportunity to discuss the Federal Bureau of927Investigation and its handling of the Capitol Hill pipe bomb928case. It's an honor to speak with you all today.929    My name is Michael Romano. I was an attorney at the930Department of Justice for almost 18 years, and immediately931before my resignation I was a Deputy Chief of the Capitol Siege932Section here in Washington, DC.933    It was a great privilege to serve the United States by934prosecuting crimes arising out of the violent riot that935happened at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.936    I commend the department's work in identifying and937arresting Brian Cole for planting pipe bombs outside the938Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on939the evening of January 5, 2021.940    This was a difficult case to solve, given the needle-in-a-941haystack nature of the evidence. Solving it was important, both942because of the harm that the pipe bombs could have caused and943because of the suspect's apparent motivation--political944violence.945    Of course, the political violence at the Capitol did not946end on January 5th when the pipe bombs were planted, nor on947January 6th when they were discovered. That same day, a riot948broke out as the President's supporters descended on the949Capitol Grounds, broke down barriers, overwhelmed police, and950stormed the building.951    This too was political violence. Rioters openly broke the952law. In fact, they bragged about it, in some cases filming953themselves and sharing their conduct on social media. Their954willingness to self-identify made them much easier to apprehend955than the pipe bomber was.956    Today, I speak as a career prosecutor who oversaw hundreds957of prosecutions of Capitol rioters. Every day for four years I958reviewed evidence of crimes committed at the Capitol. My959experience helps me better understand the political violence960that day, the damage it caused to our country, and the way that961misdemeanor defendants enabled the violence by joining the mob.962    The evidence showed that the rioters understood their963conduct in political terms. I saw some of them circulate in964advance a picture of the United States Capitol with the965following text superimposed over it, quote: ``Occupy Congress.966If they don't hear us, they will fear us. The great betrayal is967over. Election fraud is treason. January 6, 2021.'' Rioters968sending that message planned to storm the Capitol in advance.969    One rioter I prosecuted, Cody Mattice, recorded himself as970he marched to the Capitol, saying, quote, ``We're going to fuck971shit up. It's about to be nuts.'' He was not peacefully972marching to the Capitol.973    Mattice recorded his co-defendant, James Mault, asking974officers to stand down because, quote, ``We had your guys' back975when you were under attack,'' and promising that, quote, ``Your976jobs will be here after we kick the shit out of Members of977Congress.'' He was not instigated by the police.978    The evidence showed me that the mob shared their979sentiments. Its purpose was to prevent the certification of the980electoral college vote by violence or threats of violence.981After rioters smashed their way into the building, they982demanded of Officer Goodman, quote, ``Where are they counting983the fucking votes?''984    At the main door to the House, I saw rioters overwhelm985police, occupying the space outside the door. Then, I saw986rioters, including misdemeanor trespass defendants, urge other987members of the mob to ``use the helmet'' and ``use the988crowbar'' to break down that door and get inside so they could989target Member of Congress like you.990    Throughout the day, I witnessed rioters tell police991officers they had a right to rebel. Some compared their992behavior to the Revolutionary War. One defendant, Kevin993Seefried, carried the Confederate battle flag into the Capitol.994    Capitol Police officers and others bravely stood in the way995and suffered violence for it. Now the rioters who attacked them996have been pardoned. On the five-year anniversary of that riot,997the White House hosted propaganda on its official website,998falsely claiming that the Capitol Police instigated the crowd999and escalated tensions, falsely claiming that the Capitol1000Police invited people into the building, and falsely claiming1001that our work represented a political weaponization of the1002department against patriotic Americans. None of that is true.1003    The pardons are a permission for future political violence,1004and the rioters understand them that way, as you can see in1005footage of violent rioters who came to Washington, DC, last1006week on the anniversary of the riot and taunted police1007officers.1008    It is good that the pipe bomber suspect was arrested. It is1009good he will face justice. Just as planting those bombs was an1010act of political violence, we cannot forget the political1011violence committed by hundreds and abetted by thousands on that1012day.1013    I'm here and I am happy to answer any questions the1014Committee has remaining about what happened on January 6th and1015to speak to the importance of my team's work. Thank you very1016much.1017    [The prepared statement of Mr. Romano follows:]10181019[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]10201021    Mr. Loudermilk. Thank you, Mr. Romano. We'll now begin with1022questions. Reminding the Members that this hearing is about the1023investigation into the pipe bombs of January 6th.1024    We'll begin proceeding under the five-minute rule. I would1025like to note for everyone here that we may have a second round1026of questioning, depending on time and pending votes. We'll1027address this at the end of the first round.1028    I now recognize the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Nehls.1029    Mr. Nehls. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to all our1030witnesses for being here.1031    Let me start by explaining to the American people why we1032are here and why this new Committee is necessary.1033    The previous Select Subcommittee, assembled by Speaker1034Pelosi, was a sham from the start. It was a total sham. For the1035first time in the history of Congress, the Speaker rejected the1036Minority leader's selections for who would serve on a Select1037Committee. Pelosi installed two of her puppets, Adam Kinzinger1038and Liz Cheney. They both hated Donald Trump and the MAGA1039movement.1040    The stated the purpose of that Committee was to examine the1041security failures and events that led to the breach of the1042Capitol and to provide recommendations to ensure that it never1043happens again.1044    That is not what the previous January 6th Committee did.1045Instead, it set out to destroy Donald Trump and the MAGA1046movement by convincing the American people that Donald Trump1047coordinated a violent White supremacist insurrection to1048overthrow the U.S. Government. They did this to justify the1049prosecution of his supporters and former administration1050officials and to ensure that he could never become President1051again. Today, we can say they failed.1052    They put on a pretty good show. The first thing they did1053was hire someone to produce all their televised hearings who1054they knew would have a knack for making the President look bad,1055former President of ABC News James Goldston. Then, they set out1056to have a highly prescripted hearing, designated to play on the1057emotions of Americans.1058    For example, the hearing with Capitol Police officers Dunn,1059Gonell, Fanone, Hodges, four Trump haters who gave highly1060scripted and preplanned testimoneys.1061    All told, the sham Committee work cost the American people1062$18 million. That's right, $18 million. In the end, they1063released this 845-page report that failed to achieve the stated1064purpose of the Committee. Instead, it sought to blame the1065entire event on Donald Trump, whose name was mentioned 4,2071066times.1067    The word ``insurrection,'' which not a single person was1068actually charged with, is mentioned 78 times. The Proud Boys1069are mentioned 218 times. While antifa, who intelligence1070confirmed planned to be present, is only mentioned 20 times,1071the words ``White supremacy'' and ``White nationalist'' are1072mentioned 23 times and MAGA is mentioned 17 times.1073    Meanwhile, Ashli Babbitt, the only person who died by1074firearm, is mentioned just five times.1075    Oh, and remember how we found out from the December 2024 IG1076report that the FBI had 26 confidential human sources, or CHSs,1077in the crowd that day. The CHSs are mentioned a total of zero1078times in this report.1079    I know it's been a long time, but remember Ray Epps? Let me1080introduce you again to Ray Epps.1081    Play the video.1082    [Video shown.]1083    Mr. Nehls. The night of January 5th, he is filmed yelling1084at the crowd that they are going to go into the Capitol, and1085again on the day in question. He is filmed at the front of the1086crowd at the barricades, just before the initial breach. He1087whispered something into the ear of the guy next to him, and1088that guy initiated the breach.1089    Then, later at 2:43 p.m., a red flare goes off; 2:45 p.m.,1090red smoke pops; and at 2:46, Ray Epps is in video being1091extracted from the crowd of an eight-man team even though he1092was allegedly alone that day.1093    Play that clip.1094    [Video shown.]1095    Mr. Nehls. Now, despite Epps' actions on that day and1096despite him being number 16 on the January 6th most wanted page1097for months, his name is mentioned zero times in that 840-page1098document. Zero.1099    The previous Committee's report highlights that it believes1100some 2,000 protestors entered the U.S. Capitol Building on that1101date. It's on page 77. By conservative standards, that's less1102than two percent of the total estimated number of protestors1103present in the Capitol complex, 120,000, on January 6th.1104    Why didn't the other 98 percent of protestors rush to the1105Capitol if that's what Trump supposedly wanted? Why did they1106not listen to Donald Trump's orders and commands? Why did the1107vast majority never enter the Capitol Building?1108    The first breach occurred 20 minutes before Trump's speech1109ended. Why would Trump supporters leave a Trump speech and1110breach the Capitol before the grounds even ended?1111    I yield back the balance of my time. I yield back.1112    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman yields. Obviously, the Chair1113has given some latitude to our side on time. I will extend the1114same courtesy to the Members of the Minority.1115    I now recognize the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Raskin.1116    Mr. Raskin. Well, I thank you for your evenhandedness1117there, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that roundup of the worst1118conspiracy theories of the January 6th canon, and I hope that1119this Committee will help us to debunk all of them. All of them1120have been well debunked and repudiated online.1121    In any event, the gentleman does not advance any counter1122story to what the January 6th Committee found after more than a1123year of talking to more than a thousand witnesses and looking1124at more than a million pages worth of documents and getting1125overwhelmingly testimony from Republicans, people in Donald1126Trump's world.1127    If you go and you read the interviews and you look at the1128videos--and it's all online--you can see these were Donald1129Trump's people who told the story.1130    I don't mind any of those flights of fancy, but none of1131them, again, have laid a glove to what was found by the1132bipartisan January 6th Select Committee.1133    Now, Mr. Romano, you ended up by talking about pardons. I1134want to ask you, first, well, generally, what you thought about1135the validity and legitimacy of those pardons, pardons generally1136being reserved for people who show contrition and remorse and1137who have been reformed and rehabilitated and no longer are a1138danger to society.1139    Second, I wonder if you would opine as to whether or not1140Donald Trump's pardon extends to Mr. Cole, if he is indeed1141convicted, as his lawyer is asserting.1142    Mr. Romano. Certainly. Thank you for the question.1143    Mr. Raskin. Turn your mike on.1144    Mr. Romano. Thank you. I thought the pardons of the January11456th defendants were tremendously ill-advised. These were people1146who had been convicted after trial or after guilty plea.1147    Many of them, as we saw, remained proud of their conduct1148throughout the pendency of their case, remained proud of their1149conduct at sentencing. They certainly, as a group of people,1150broadly, did not show remorse. We can see that in the way that1151they have celebrated the pardons and tried to lie about what1152happened on January 6th.1153    As for Mr. Cole, it's unfortunately an open question1154whether the pardon applies to him. I don't know that there's a1155clear yes or no, and I think that's a problem.1156    Certainly, a pardon that was not rushed through on day one1157in the way that this could have been more targeted and could1158have not raised the sort of issues that are raised by this1159question.1160    Mr. Raskin. Well, the Department of Justice under Pam Bondi1161has actually advanced a very robust understanding of the scope1162of the pardon. Has the DOJ not? Isn't she taking the position1163it's even applied to other criminal offenses unrelated to1164January 6th if there was evidence that was assembled from the1165defendants after their January 6th arrest?1166    Mr. Romano. That's true. For instance, when a home is1167searched and evidence of another crime is developed during the1168execution of that search warrant, the Department of Justice has1169taken that position.1170    Mr. Raskin. One might expect that she could take a1171similarly robust interpretation of the pardon with respect to1172Mr. Cole.1173    Look, we should really have a hearing on this Subcommittee1174about the people who were pardoned who have gone on to commit1175other serious offenses against public safety and against the1176people of the United States.1177    I wonder, is there any case in your mind that you1178prosecuted or you oversaw which stands out in your mind as a1179particularly troubling one from the standpoint of public1180safety?1181    Mr. Romano. Absolutely. The one that stands out in my mind1182is the case of Daniel Ball, who fought with officers at the1183Lower West Terrace Tunnel, the site of some of the worst1184violence that day, and then thew an explosive into the tunnel.1185He threw an explosive injuring officers, causing some to lose1186hearing.1187    There's no world in which a person who uses an explosive1188device against police in close quarters should be pardoned.1189    Mr. Raskin. Well, to be clear, did President Trump1190investigate his file and determine that he had shown repentance1191and remorse, that he would no longer be a danger to the public?1192    Mr. Romano. I don't see how he could have given it when the1193pardons came out.1194    Mr. Raskin. It came out on the first day, and it was en1195masse. It was everybody. The most serious criminals who leveled1196the most egregious violence against police officers, and those1197people who were just mere trespassers who just went in and1198maybe damaged some property or something else like that, all of1199them were swept in together, all of them treated exactly the1200same way.1201    Well, what do you think, in general, the meaning of those1202pardons is going to be for American public safety and1203government going forward?1204    Mr. Romano. The pardons are damaging to public safety, the1205pardons are damaging to confidence in the rule of law and in1206the ability of the Justice Department to fight crime. That some1207of the rioters have received the message that violence done on1208behalf of the President or in support of his administration is1209permitted and encouraged.1210    Mr. Raskin. OK. Well, finally, Mr. Chair, I would just1211commend to everybody the testimony of Pamela Hemphill, who was1212a convicted insurrectionist and yet was pardoned. She rejected1213her pardon because she said she didn't want President Trump's1214filthy pardon; that she was found guilty because she had1215actually committed an offense, and she wasn't going to1216participate in the sham of the pardons. Her testimony is1217something that would pay everybody well to check out. I would1218like to submit it for the record.1219    I yield back to you, Mr. Chair.1220    Mr. Loudermilk. Without objection. The gentleman yields1221back. I now recognize the gentlelady from Wyoming.1222    Ms. Hageman. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Romano, did you1223prosecute anyone related to January 6th for engaging in an1224insurrection?1225    Mr. Romano. No, Congresswoman.1226    Ms. Hageman. I didn't think so. Mr. Raskin's statement that1227someone was a convicted insurrectionist is actually inaccurate.1228Isn't that correct?1229    Mr. Romano. I wouldn't say it's inaccurate. Well, a1230convicted insurrectionist--1231    Ms. Hageman. He wasn't a convicted insurrectionist, was he?1232    Mr. Raskin. Would the gentlelady yield?1233    Ms. Hageman. No, I will not. Mr. Romano--1234    Mr. Raskin. Do you accept seditious conspiracy is1235insurrection?1236    Mr. Loudermilk. It's the gentlelady's time.1237    Ms. Hageman. I will reclaim my time. Mr. Romano, did you1238prosecute anyone for engaging in an insurrection related to1239January 6th?1240    Mr. Romano. For the crime of insurrection?1241    Ms. Hageman. You did not, did you?1242    Mr. Romano. No.1243    Ms. Hageman. This Select Subcommittee is committed to1244undertaking the investigation that the first Select Committee1245never conducted: How did the security failure on January 6th1246happen, and how do we ensure it does not happen again. Since1247the pipe bomb split the USCP posture and thereby facilitated1248the breach of the Capitol, we must begin with this issue.1249    My first question is: Why did a new team under Director1250Patel in just two months do what the FBI failed to do over four1251years with the exact same evidence? The answer appears to be a1252failure from the very start of the FBI's response.1253    As a Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee that oversees1254the DOJ and FBI, it necessitates that we begin right here.1255    According to what we have been led to believe, the pipe1256bombs were placed outside the RNC and DNC on the evening of1257January 5th.1258    They allegedly sat there undetected for 17 hours before the1259device behind the RNC was discovered at approximately 12:381260p.m., with the device at the DNC immediately discovered1261thereafter at 1:05 p.m.1262    The pipe bomb outside the RNC was discovered by Karlin1263Younger, who lived near the RNC and discovered the pipe bomb in1264the unmarked alley between the Capitol Hill Club and RNC while1265doing her laundry. She alerted the RNC security who had then1266alerted the authorities.1267    Oddly enough, no one from the FBI contacted Ms. Younger.1268Two days later, on January 8th, Ms. Younger had to proactively1269contact the FBI through an online tip to identify herself as1270the person who discovered the pipe bomb and to offer her1271assistance with the case because she had not yet been contacted1272by the FBI.1273    Mr. Nantz, would you agree that it would be standard1274operating procedure and good investigative practice to1275interview all the eyewitnesss?1276    Mr. Nantz. Yes, absolutely. That would be standard1277practice, to make sure that you cast a broad enough net so that1278you're interviewing any witness that could possibly provide1279information with regard to the progress of the investigation.1280    Ms. Hageman. Well, can you think of any reason as to why1281the FBI did not seek to immediately speak to the person who1282actually found the bomb?1283    Mr. Nantz. Well, no. That's a problem. That's a question1284that needs to be answered. Does it go to lack of resources?1285That's still very, very early. I find that to be extremely1286problematic.1287    Ms. Hageman. Well, in her online tip, Ms. Younger stated,1288quote, ``I can confirm that the device must have been placed1289between 12:00 p.m. and 12:40 p.m. Eastern Standard time on1290January 6th,'' because it was not there when she first passed1291the area around 12 p.m.1292    When was the bomb actually placed and by whom?1293    The FBI finally interviewed Ms. Younger three days later,1294on January 11th, and it confirmed her testimony that the device1295outside the RNC was not there before 12 p.m. on January 6th.1296    Ms. Hageman. This leads us to three significant data1297points.1298    First, the bombs had kitchen timers for 60 minutes.1299    Second, the witness who first discovered the bomb noted it1300was not there before noon, about 60 minutes before the meeting1301of Congress.1302    Third, if, in fact, the bombs were placed the night of the13035th, they sat there for 17 hours in a highly trafficked area,1304undisguised, without detection, until the most crucial time for1305security that day, which was when Congress was voting to1306certify the election.1307    Mr. Nantz, what should the FBI have done with this1308contradicting evidence?1309    Mr. Nantz. Well, the Bureau should have run that all to1310ground. Every resource should've been made available to make1311sure that those questions got answered. That simply did not1312happen. That had to do with a less-than-ideal leadership1313posture.1314    Ms. Hageman. Well, that's the understatement of the1315century, Mr. Nantz, but I appreciate your remarks on that.1316    Both devices were largely undisguised, invisible along1317heavily trafficked areas, yet they allegedly lay undiscovered1318for 17 hours, a point Ms. Younger disputes. Again, which, oddly1319enough, they were not detected by the Secret Service bomb1320sweeps at the DNC before the arrival of then-Vice-President-1321elect Harris that very morning.1322    Does the fact that these devices were not detected for 171323hours raise any questions for you?1324    Mr. Nantz. Well, of course. I think it does for everybody,1325you know?1326    Though the January 6th investigation was just beginning and1327I suppose you could make an argument that resources were1328stretched thin, the gravity of the placement of where these1329pipe bombs were placed suggests that should've received at1330least the same or equivalent amount of resources that the1331broader J6 investigation--1332    Ms. Hageman. Well, then, I appreciate not only did it not1333receive the attention, the January 6th Committee entirely1334ignored the placement of those bombs, which tells you that they1335had an agenda that they pursued that had nothing to do with1336what actually happened on January 6th.1337    With that, I yield back.1338    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentlelady's time has expired.1339    Ms. Crockett. Mr. Chair, I have a UC.1340    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentlelady from Texas, Ms. Crockett, is1341now recognized.1342    Ms. Crockett. Thank you so much. This is from The New York1343Times. It's dated January 13, 2021, ``Trump Impeached for1344Inciting Insurrection: President Trump became the first1345president to be impeached twice, after the House approved a1346single charge citing his role in whipping up a mob that stormed1347the Capitol. He faces a Senate trial that could disqualify him1348from future office.''1349    There were 10 members of his party that joined the1350Democrats in impeaching him for insurrection.1351    Mr. Loudermilk. Without objection.1352    Ms. Crockett. May I proceed?1353    Mr. Loudermilk. You've been recognized.1354    Ms. Crockett. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.1355    I don't know where I want to start. I am so frustrated with1356this country, and I don't think that I'm the only one. To know1357that we have former law enforcement here, as someone who worked1358with law enforcement consistently as a practicing lawyer, I'm1359quite concerned. I'm alarmed by some of the things that you1360said.1361    Specifically, Mr. Speciale--am I saying it correctly? OK.1362Mr. Speciale, you said--and I may quote you incorrectly, so1363correct me--you were warning your family about the possibility1364of the FBI busting into your home. Is that correct? Close1365enough?1366    Mr. Speciale. Yes, because they were raiding American1367citizens all over the United States for trespass.1368    Ms. Crockett. You'd agree with me that's--I mean--1369    Mr. Speciale. No, I don't agree that you should use FBI1370tactical teams to raid people who are trespassing.1371    Ms. Crockett. That's not what I was saying. Sorry, I was1372moving a little slow, because I wanted to make sure I quoted1373this correctly. Are you aware that the FBI recently executed a1374search warrant at a Washington Post reporter's home?1375    Mr. Speciale. No, I'm not aware of that.1376    Ms. Crockett. OK. You'd agree with me that doing something1377like that with the FBI sounds like what you were afraid of1378happening. To be clear, that never happened to you, correct?1379    Mr. Speciale. No, it didn't, but I was aware of the FBI1380investigation for 2\1/2\ years.1381    Ms. Crockett. OK. OK. Hold on. It is my time. You did not--1382so they never busted into your home. You were concerned, and1383you felt like that would be wrong.1384    What I'm trying to understand is that there's a lot of1385complaints about the Wray FBI, and I won't opine on that, but I1386will make it clear--Mr. Romano, help me out if I'm wrong, but1387was Mr. Wray appointed by Donald J. Trump himself?1388    Mr. Romano. Mr. Wray? No.1389    Ms. Crockett. Mr. Christopher Wray, who was the FBI1390Director.1391    Mr. Romano. Oh, yes.1392    Ms. Crockett. OK. He was appointed by Donald Trump. Right1393now, it is interesting, because we're sitting here and we're1394talking about domestic terrorism, and every day there are1395Americans concerned about ICE and what ICE is doing.1396    Let me ask you a different question that you may be1397familiar with. As it relates to the training that the average1398FBI officer gets before they are admitted as officers, is it1399longer than 47 days, yes or no?1400    Mr. Speciale. I don't think that I'm the person that you1401should be asking that question. I think that the retired FBI1402agent should be--1403    Ms. Crockett. Anybody want to answer that who's been in law1404enforcement?1405    Mr. Piehota. Yes, ma'am. The FBI Academy ranges anywhere1406from--it changes in length and duration. It can go from 12-16,1407up and up to 18-20 weeks at a time.1408    Ms. Crockett. OK. Thank you so much. So, here it is. We1409have people--I know that there have been conversations about1410political opponents. I believe it may have been you, Mr.1411Piehota, that you talked about political opponents being1412prosecuted.1413    Let me ask you, Mr. Romano, though. Are you aware that this1414DOJ has gone after Jerome Powell, or going after Jerome Powell?1415    Mr. Romano. I'm aware of reporting to that effect, yes.1416    Ms. Crockett. Are you aware of this DOJ going after Tish1417James?1418    Mr. Romano. Yes.1419    Ms. Crockett. Are you aware of this DOJ going after James1420Comey?1421    Mr. Romano. Yes, after the President tweeted that they1422should.1423    Ms. Crockett. Are you also aware that James Comey is not1424currently being prosecuted, his case was dismissed?1425    Mr. Romano. I am.1426    Ms. Crockett. Are you also aware that Tish James's case was1427dismissed?1428    Mr. Romano. Yes.1429    Ms. Crockett. Are you also aware that a number of times1430that they tried to indict Tish James they were unsuccessful?1431    Mr. Romano. I am.1432    Ms. Crockett. Now, as a career prosecutor, how many times1433did you have to try to get people indicted before you could1434finally secure an indictment?1435    Mr. Romano. I never had the grand jury reject an indictment1436that I presented--1437    Ms. Crockett. Oh, OK. All right. Well, it seems like maybe1438they still need you there, because they are struggling.1439    In addition to that, I want to talk--because the conspiracy1440theories are driving me insane. Maybe it is because I'm used to1441the law just being the law and practicing and getting into a1442courtroom, and maybe it's because I've been there. I am so1443confused about how they're like, ``Oh, these poor little1444people, they did nothing wrong, and that's why the President1445let them all out of prison.''1446    Let's talk about the process, OK? Because you can say that1447an investigation has been flawed--and Lord knows, as a criminal1448defense attorney, it was my job to make sure that I dug into1449every single flaw. Because I can tell you, in almost every1450single prosecution that I've had to go up against, the only1451thing I was looking at is how much did you mess up, so that I1452could represent my client well, right? It didn't mean that I1453would get them off.1454    I'm trying to figure out, did these people, over a thousand1455people, get convicted of something that they did in a criminal1456way on January 6th, yes or no?1457    Mr. Romano. Yes.1458    Ms. Crockett. OK. Then you come back--and they were1459convicted by, what, a jury, some of them?1460    Mr. Romano. Mostly juries, some judges.1461    Ms. Crockett. Some people actually did what we call a plea1462bargain, correct?1463    Mr. Romano. Correct.1464    Ms. Crockett. Meaning that they walked in and they said,1465``I am guilty,'' correct?1466    Mr. Romano. Yes.1467    Ms. Crockett. OK. The final point that I'll make, because I1468know I'm running out of time, is, there was some stuff about1469White supremacists and the concerns about people being alleged1470to be White supremacists. Some of the people that got convicted1471were neo-Nazis. Have they been clarified as White supremacists1472or not?1473    Mr. Romano. Yes.1474    Ms. Crockett. Some of the people were Proud Boys. Have they1475been declared as White supremacists or not?1476    Mr. Romano. I believe so.1477    Ms. Crockett. OK. Then, the Confederate flag, has that1478sometimes been associated with White supremacist groups?1479    Mr. Romano. I would certainly say it was during the Civil1480War and since.1481    Ms. Crockett. OK. Then, there's this sign, I'm not going to1482do it, but it looks like the ``OK'' sign with the hand gesture.1483    Mr. Romano. Uh-huh.1484    Ms. Crockett. Has than been associated with White1485supremacy?1486    Mr. Romano. Yes.1487    Ms. Crockett. OK. As one of the prosecutors that prosecuted1488some of these cases, did you not have defendants that you felt1489like may have been White supremacists based on the1490investigations?1491    Mr. Romano. Yes. In some cases, we had evidence explicitly1492of it.1493    Ms. Crockett. Thank so very much. I'll yield.1494    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentlelady's time has expired. I'll now1495recognize the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Griffith, for five1496minutes.1497    Mr. Griffith. Mr. Romano, let's first clear up the ``OK''1498sign. The ``OK'' sign is more predominantly just used to say1499``OK,'' is it not, than for White supremacy?1500    Mr. Romano. Sometimes it is. Historically, yes.1501    Mr. Griffith. Historically--1502    Mr. Romano. Sometimes it's used to--1503    Mr. Griffith. Used today, a majority of the time,1504worldwide, it's not a White supremacist sign. Wouldn't that be1505true?1506    Mr. Romano. I don't know if I could speak to the majority1507of cases now.1508    Mr. Griffith. All right. Let's move on. I've got so many1509things to ask.1510    I've been concerned with this whole pipe bomb situation for1511some time, and I want to ask you some questions, because, as a1512prosecutor, I, too--as Ms. Crockett just pointed out, was a1513criminal defense attorney--I, too, was a criminal defense1514attorney.1515    Absent a confession, would you agree with me that, with the1516evidence that we know, that the pipe bombs were allegedly1517planted--allegedly--by Mr. Cole on the night of January 5th,1518but we have the witness at the RNC who says they weren't there1519then and we have the situation where the folks came through1520with the explosive-sniffing dogs before the pipe bombs were1521supposed to be there, but before they were found and didn't hit1522on the pipe bombs. Wouldn't you agree that, as a prosecutor,1523absent the confession by Mr. Cole, you have a hard time getting1524a conviction? Wouldn't you agree with that?1525    Mr. Romano. Maybe yes, maybe no. It depends on the rest of1526the evidence, which I understand includes evidence of financial1527transactions that he engaged in license-plate-reader hits, that1528sort of thing.1529    Mr. Griffith. Yes, intending to do something and actually1530succeeding in doing it are two different things. If you've got1531dogs and people saying the bombs weren't there when they were1532supposed to have already been planted by him and he's confessed1533to planting them the night before, I win that one. Now, we can1534disagree about that and talk about it later.1535    Let me ask you some additional questions, if I might.1536    Were you ever advised, as you were doing your1537investigations, of any FBI agents on January 6, 2021, being1538inside the Capitol and observing the January 6th rioters?1539    Mr. Romano. I'm not sure what you mean. There--I wasn't1540aware of, nor did I see any evidence of, FBI agents within the1541crowd or planted there, if that's what you're getting at.1542    Mr. Griffith. All right. How about FBI-paid informants?1543    Mr. Romano. I understand there were people who had been1544signed up as informants by the FBI who went there, not at the1545direction of their FBI handlers, but individually. There were a1546small handful of such individuals.1547    Mr. Griffith. Did you interview those individuals?1548    Mr. Romano. No.1549    Mr. Griffith. Did your office--did anybody in your office1550interview those individuals?1551    Mr. Romano. They may have. I'm not certain as I sit here1552today.1553    Mr. Griffith. You're not certain. You didn't call any of1554those individuals as witnesses in any of the cases?1555    Mr. Romano. I did not. I, again, couldn't say that it1556didn't happen in any case, but I did not.1557    Mr. Griffith. All right. Did anyone--while you were the1558prosecutor and working on this, did anyone bring you1559information regarding Congressman Barry Loudermilk?1560    Mr. Romano. No.1561    Mr. Griffith. Did anybody bring you any information about1562any wrongdoing ever done by Congressman Barry Loudermilk?1563    Mr. Romano. No, I certainly didn't receive any evidence of1564wrongdoing by the Chair.1565    Mr. Griffith. If there was a thorough investigation and at1566one point mentioned that there might've been a problem and then1567that final report didn't have any report saying that there was1568no problem, that might be an issue of contention, wouldn't you1569agree? Wouldn't you agree with the premise that there could be1570an issue of contention there?1571    Mr. Romano. I'd have to know more about the circumstances.1572    Mr. Griffith. All right. I appreciate that. That being1573said, let me go to Mr. Piehota.1574    We've heard all kinds of allegations, but how do you1575explain that the Patel FBI was able to identify a pipe bomb1576suspect once they put their attention to it within about six1577weeks, but the Wray FBI failed to identify a single suspect or1578make one arrest in four years? What does that tell you about1579the way the investigation was handled?1580    Why did it take so long for the Wray folks to even look at1581doing a pipe bomb investigation? Can you give me some insight1582on that?1583    Mr. Piehota. Certainly. What you saw with the incoming1584leadership team from Director Patel was a renewed focus,1585renewed energy, resourcing, and new perspective on what they1586were looking for.1587    Under the Wray FBI, this case was allowed to languish. It1588started to lose energy. Over time, there was a split of1589resources, there was a split of attention. What happened--1590    Mr. Griffith. Well, it looked like that happened within the1591first couple of months. Would that be standard at the FBI in1592the case of a pipe bomb being left outside the Republican1593National Committee headquarters and the Democrat National1594Committee headquarters? Does that make sense?1595    Mr. Piehota. No, it's highly unusual. They did have the1596larger events that happened on January 6th that they diverted1597attention, energy, and resources to. The headquarters' senior1598leadership and the Washington Field's senior leadership1599diverted their attention.1600    Mr. Griffith. Wouldn't you have been concerned--because I1601certainly would be, as a Member of the Republican Party, for1602the Republicans and for my friends on the other side of the1603aisle at the Democrat headquarters--if somebody planted a bomb1604and they have no idea who it is, that there might be a repeat1605offense and that we really ought to dig into that because both1606Republican lawmakers and Democrat lawmakers were at risk?1607    Mr. Piehota. Absolutely. It was a public safety issue. They1608failed to do that, and it was a lack of focus.1609    Mr. Griffith. I think it is more than a lack of focus. I1610yield back, Mr. Chair.1611    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman yields. The Chair now1612recognizes the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Moskowitz. Sorry.1613    Mr. Moskowitz. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that.1614    First, let me say a thank you to the FBI and the Department1615of Justice and law enforcement for catching the pipe bomber.1616    The other side of the aisle came with videos showing the1617riot on January 6th. Keep showing those videos. We can sit here1618and let's watch a couple hours of that footage. I don't know1619why you think that helps you. It just reminds the American1620people what they saw with their eyes: Thousands of people1621storming into a building and beating police officers.1622    If we wanted, at the next hearing, Mr. Chair, a documentary1623standpoint, maybe we should watch all the film from that day. I1624think that would be good.1625    Also, it's a weird question to ask, why wasn't the riot1626worse? Why didn't even more people go in? Why wasn't it even1627worse? We had a couple thousand; why wasn't it 10,000? Why did1628some people decide not to break the law? That's a weird sort of1629thing to ask.1630    Oh, then we've got Ray Epps. Love this. Ray Epps, OK?16311632        Ray Epps told us to do it. He told us to break the law and1633        break windows and doors and beat police officers and hang Mike1634        Pence and try to break onto the floor of the House of1635        Representatives and wipe feces on the walls. We only did it1636        because Ray Epps told us.16371638How pathetic. Who are these lemmings that broke into the1639Capitol because Ray Epps told them to do it?1640    By the way, if you go to Ray Epps's Wikipedia page, Ray1641Epps says he's an American wedding planner and Oath Keeper1642chapter president. Number-one wedding planner to the Oath1643Keepers. I will say, weddings are a place that you give an1644oath. That's totally fair.1645    By the way, the head of the Oath Keepers is here with us in1646the audience. Stewart Rhodes is here today.1647    [Applause.]1648    Mr. Moskowitz. It's not every day, of course, you get to1649meet someone who was convicted of seditious conspiracy against1650the United States. Hasn't happened in 30 years. Of course,1651sitting in the front row in the reserved section, which is1652controlled by my colleagues across the aisle.1653    Not sure why he's here. I don't know if he's here to tell1654us about the Oath Keepers' secret handshake or what treehouse1655they meet in or whether girls are allowed in. I've always1656wondered that about the Oath Keepers, but, yes, he's here.1657    I don't know, do you have any questions, my colleagues1658across the aisle, for the head of the Oath Keepers that's1659sitting in the reserved section of this hearing?1660    He wasn't pardoned. He's still convicted of seditious1661conspiracy--something you guys say didn't happen, right? If1662there wasn't an insurrection, I don't know how you get1663convicted of seditious conspiracy.1664    Then, we've got Mr. Speciale, who says the reason we didn't1665catch the pipe bomber is because we were so focused on trying1666to catch Trump people, Trump supporters.1667    Well, Mr. Speciale, breaking news: As it turns out, the1668pipe bomber is a Trump supporter. You're right. They were1669focused on trying to catch people. Turns out, it's just that1670person, the person you're talking about.1671    I went to your website, because you mentioned it, Mr.1672Speciale. You put on your website that January 6th should not1673be forgotten, like the Holocaust and 9/11.1674    It's interesting that you chose those two events--two1675events that also have terrible conspiracies about them, right?1676Like the Holocaust didn't happen or it wasn't as bad, or that16779/11 was done by the Jews or an inside job, right? It's1678interesting that you lump in this one with those. I find that1679fascinating.1680    Did the Holocaust happen, Mr. Speciale?1681    Mr. Speciale. That's an asinine question. Of course it did.1682    Mr. Moskowitz. OK. Did 9/11 happen?1683    Mr. Speciale. Of course it did.1684    Mr. Moskowitz. Was 9/11 done by the American Government?1685    Mr. Speciale. I don't believe so, no.1686    Mr. Moskowitz. Was it done by the Israelis?1687    Mr. Speciale. No, I don't think so.1688    Mr. Moskowitz. OK. Six million people died in the1689Holocaust, right?1690    Mr. Speciale. Yes, I think that's the number.1691    Mr. Moskowitz. OK. You--1692    Mr. Speciale. I think it's actually worse than that--1693    Mr. Moskowitz. It was, yes.1694    Mr. Speciale. --when you think about all the consequences1695of all the other--all the soldiers and all the--1696    Mr. Moskowitz. Tens of millions of people died in World War1697II.1698    Mr. Speciale. Yes, yes, yes.1699    Mr. Moskowitz. Yes, 70 million, actually, I think is the1700number of total people that died in World War II. This was a1701conspiracy.1702    Mr. Speciale. Yes. That's the frustrating part for me, is1703that we've got Congressman Raskin up there smiling while he's1704watching videos of one of the biggest tragedies that our1705country has ever faced, and he's over there giggling about1706how--and you're saying we should watch it over and over again.1707    We should watch it over and over again. We absolutely1708should. Because I think, that day, were it not for Donald Trump1709saying, ``Thank you, everybody; go home,'' it could've been1710worse. Instead--1711    Mr. Moskowitz. Oh, yes, yes, no, no.1712    Mr. Speciale. --he said, ``Go home.''1713    Mr. Moskowitz. Hold on. Reclaiming my time.1714    Mr. Speciale. So, no, listen--1715    Mr. Moskowitz. Reclaiming my time. I love that. After the1716President told everyone to break the law, mid-law-breaking--1717    Mr. Speciale. He didn't tell everybody to break the law.1718    Mr. Moskowitz. Hold on. Mid-law-breaking, he was like,1719``OK, pull back, pull back.''1720    Mr. Speciale. He didn't tell everybody, ``Break the law.''1721He said, ``Go there peacefully.'' The media distorted what he1722said.1723    Mr. Moskowitz. Was that peaceful?1724    Mr. Speciale. They edited the clips.1725    Mr. Moskowitz. Hold on. Was it peaceful?1726    Mr. Speciale. Then the January 6th Committee distorted it1727for all the American people.1728    Mr. Moskowitz. Hold on, Mr. Speciale. Was it peaceful?1729    Mr. Speciale. The truth of the matter is--1730    Mr. Moskowitz. Hold on. Was it peaceful?1731    Mr. Speciale. --Donald Trump said--1732    Mr. Moskowitz. Hold on. Was it peaceful?1733    Mr. Speciale. --``Go home; you've made your point,'' and1734they did.1735    Mr. Moskowitz. Was it peaceful?1736    Mr. Speciale. No, it wasn't peaceful.1737    Mr. Moskowitz. OK, OK. Hanging Mike Pence, not peaceful.1738    Mr. Speciale. That's asinine. Of course not.1739    Mr. Moskowitz. OK. It wasn't peaceful.1740    Mr. Speciale. I can explain better--if you'd give me time,1741I would happily explain to you--1742    Mr. Moskowitz. No, no No, no, it wasn't peaceful because1743Ray Epps told people--1744    Mr. Speciale. No, it wasn't peaceful because the body of1745the--I've made this analysis--I've made this analysis over and1746over again, and it's very important, and it's lost on many1747people.1748    The crowd of people that were there in attendance that day1749were, a vast majority of them, veterans and law enforcement--1750retired veterans and law enforcement. They were standing1751around. Most of them, 99 percent, were peaceful.1752    Then the Capitol Police, I believe, panicked. I believe1753that they lost command and control in the Capitol Police and1754they started CS-gassing the crowd.1755    Well, veterans are trained to do one thing and one thing1756only, and that is fight tyranny and fight injustice.1757    Mr. Moskowitz. Break into the Capitol, apparently.1758    Mr. Speciale. That is what we're trained to do. When the1759Capitol Police began CS-gassing the crowd, the veterans and the1760law enforcement stepped forward to protect the crowd.1761    Mr. Moskowitz. Yes.1762    Mr. Speciale. That right there is called a black swan. It1763is what I warned of in October 2020 to the FBI domestic1764terrorism task force. That's how these things happen all around1765the world. They happen in Iran, they happen in Syria, they1766happen in Saudi Arabia, and they happen in Libya. That's how1767it's done. I was warning of that.1768    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman's time--1769    Mr. Speciale. In this particular crowd--sorry.1770    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman's time has expired. You can1771submit the remainder of your comments for the record. I now1772recognize the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Higgins.1773    Mr. Higgins. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Speciale, you can1774take great honor to know that Mr. Moskowitz would've treated1775you with much more kindness had you been an illegal appearing1776before this Committee.1777    Mr. Moskowitz. That's a lie, but OK.1778    Mr. Higgins. Mr. Romano, have you been deposed by this1779Committee, sir?1780    Mr. Romano. No, not by this Committee.1781    Mr. Higgins. Would you be willing to participate in a1782deposition by this Committee?1783    Mr. Romano. Absolutely.1784    Mr. Higgins. That's gonna happen.1785    Mr. Chair, the COVID-era government oppression was very1786real and impacted American citizens. Our freedom to travel the1787land was greatly restricted--our freedom to congregate, our1788freedom to worship, and our freedom to speak. The government1789oppression that America suffered in the COVID era leading up to1790the November election cycle of 2020 was unprecedented.1791    The Biden FBI did penetrate legitimate First Amendment1792communications in groups of American patriots who had the1793audacity to object to government oppression. The Biden FBI,1794trained to manipulate and agitate, did foment rage within these1795groups of American patriots.1796    The November 2020 election cycle was compromised. The Biden1797FBI did have undercover agents and confidential informants1798embedded within the rally crowds on J4, J5, and J6. The Biden1799FBI did conspire to entrap MAGA Americans prior to J6 and then1800successfully entrapped several hundred Americans on J6.1801    The Biden FBI and DOJ did unrighteously persecute, arrest,1802and imprison entrapped Americans.1803    The FBI Director Wray did lie to Congress repeatedly about1804all this abhorrent government oppression against the American1805people. President Trump did rightfully pardon the Americans who1806fell prey to the Biden FBI and DOJ.1807    Within months of his inauguration, the Trump FBI did1808identify and arrest the J6 pipe-bomber suspect, using only the1809evidence that had been in the possession of the Biden FBI since18102021.1811    Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to present for the1812record a letter dated January 11, 2021, to the Administrator of1813TSA, signed by Bennie Thompson, then-Chair of Homeland Security1814Committee, and John Katko, the Ranking Member of Homeland1815Security Committee, a renowned moderate, New York, leaning-1816liberal Republican now gone from Congress, identifying Trump1817supporters as insurrectionists and suggesting efforts by the1818TSA to disrupt the travel of White supremacists and other1819domestic terrorists, to quickly deny air carrier services to1820individuals identified as members of those groups, and to1821encourage efforts to identify and add to watchlists the1822perpetrators and members of American organizations that had the1823audacity to challenge the narrative that was presented under1824the COVID era and the oppression that the American people1825suffered.1826    Mr. Loudermilk. Without objection.1827    Mr. Higgins. Mr. Nantz, drawing from your expertise,1828longstanding, with the FBI, can you find any reason, good sir,1829that the FBI would not have solved the pipe-bomber crime based1830on the evidence in their possession, including cellular1831analytics that--we were advised by whistleblowers that under1832200 possible cell numbers were identified and presented to the1833FBI and the illegitimate J6 original Liz Cheney Committee. Why1834did the FBI not solve that crime, good sir?1835    Mr. Nantz. Well, the rapidity of the Patel Administration,1836or directorship, in solving this case demonstrates exactly why1837the Wray FBI failed to do so. As has been stated before, this1838was a matter of leadership. This was also a matter of1839messaging.1840    People need to understand the relationship between DOJ and1841the FBI, that the FBI investigates criminal activity, or should1842be, and DOJ conducts prosecutions--1843    Mr. Higgins. How could the FBI be that inept, I just ask1844you? To me, I believe it was purposeful. I believe they1845identified their suspects in the under 200 numbers, and none of1846them fit the profile of the so-called alleged White supremacist1847MAGA activists, so they stepped away from that investigation. I1848believe that there's no way they could be that inept.1849    Mr. Chair, my time has expired, but my passion on this1850subject has not.1851    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman has yielded back.1852    The Chair notes that there is a lot of passion regarding1853this topic. It is something that's passionate on both sides of1854the aisle here. Our objective, or my objective, in this1855Committee is to get to the truth, without political bias, of1856what happened.1857    The question remains: How did the previous FBI go five1858years without even a lead, using the exact same data, no1859exception?1860    Recently, I've talked to the FBI agents that are currently1861at the FBI, were at the FBI before. They confirmed to me that1862there was no new evidence brought forward. New eyes were1863brought into this process. A Red Team was brought in, which1864also included non-FBI agents that come from teams that are1865out--task forces. They took a look at the same evidence.1866    The question being--there's a lot of good information1867that's been brought up, and a lot of questions--is there1868political bias involved in the decision? Is it just a lower1869priority? We know that a lot of the resources were shifted over1870to prosecuting those who trespassed at the Capitol.1871    What I'd like to do for a moment is actually look at the1872data that was there during the Biden-era FBI, the same data1873that was looked at by the Patel-era FBI.1874    One of the things--Mr. Piehota, let me start with you.1875You're familiar with the CAST team; is that correct?1876    Mr. Piehota. Yes.1877    Mr. Loudermilk. Can you briefly describe what the CAST team1878is in the FBI?1879    Mr. Piehota. They're a communication analysis team. They do1880cellular phone communication reviews, analysis of records, and1881dispositions. They can tell you who was where and when. They1882look at the communications network and how it was leveraged1883during certain situations.1884    Mr. Loudermilk. We also have from an FBI report that the1885members of CAST were frustrated that they were put on the back1886burner when it came to the pipe-bomb investigation. Would that1887be something that would normally be done within the FBI?1888    Mr. Piehota. In my experience, no. You take those1889specialized resources as they come.1890    Unfortunately, what they might've run into were turf1891battles, personality issues, and things that tend to hinder1892investigations, where that's where that engaged leadership1893would come in and bulldoze right through those challenges and1894make sure that internal FBI resources were properly and1895completely engaged, which did not happen, it appears, across1896this investigation.1897    Mr. Loudermilk. OK. There's no doubt there was violence on1898January 6th. None of us have denied that. I do appreciate our1899Capitol Police, who defend us here and have been here to1900protect us and the other that people are here.1901    Now, one of the concerns I had with the Select Committee on1902January 6th is: They had an entire team that was supposedly1903dedicated to investigating how did the breach happen here at1904the Capitol. Now, there's really nothing in their 700-page1905report regarding security failures. However, Republicans1906investigating this, all the way back to Representative Banks,1907who's now Senator Banks, as well as my previous investigation,1908uncovered what appears to be a massive intelligence failure.1909    One of those that we're actually getting more information1910right now are these CHSs, confidential human sources, which we1911know that there were several embedded, which that's important,1912for the FBI to have these informants embedded in extremist1913groups.1914    We have multiple reports of that, some even indicating that1915it very well could have been much worse, as I've been reading1916over these reports, by some reports coming in that it was going1917to be armed, it was going to be a takeover of the government.1918Fortunately, that didn't happen.1919    It is beyond the question that the FBI, through these1920reports, knew that there was going to be violence at the1921Capitol. However, we have been unable to find any evidence that1922this information was transferred from the FBI formally to1923anyone else, including the U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S.1924Capitol Police intelligence division. We're still looking at1925that.1926    Is that normal operating procedures? Is this turf battle so1927tight within the FBI that they would not report actionable1928intelligence that there very, very likely is going to be1929violence at the Capitol?1930    Mr. Piehota. What you found here was a communication1931failure. They downplayed the information. They probably saw1932that it wasn't actionable or it came from sources of1933questionable reliability. They downgraded the veracity of the1934information, chose not to disseminate some of it to the1935partners, and let them make their own decisions.1936    In my opinion, it was a bad judgment call inside the Bureau1937not to have that pre-event call, share that information with1938them, let the partners make their own decisions, and combine it1939with information that they may have developed separately. I1940would say it was an intelligence shortfall.1941    Mr. Loudermilk. It is clear the intelligence was there,1942because even the Metropolitan D.C., their own emergency1943management department ordered hospitals to double their blood1944supply just based on their intelligence of what was coming in.1945    That we would not be able to use these agencies that work1946together to make sure that we weren't caught flatfooted, as we1947were on January 6th.1948    One other question I have about the CAST. Now, we do know1949that there was a data request made from all the carriers, and1950it was a huge request of cell phones that were in/around the1951Capitol January 5th-6th. That's the data of which the current1952FBI was able to narrow down, with a combination of the videos1953so they'd know where the suspect was, they were able to track1954him down, and then they were also able to go out and find the1955purchases. This is what pulled things together.1956    It's confusing me how that could not have been done by the1957previous administration. I believe it could have; there was1958just a lack of will.1959    There's another--something else that was brought up by one1960of my colleagues here was the gallows that were erected. It1961appears from my previous investigation that the FBI put no1962resources into identifying who erected the gallows.1963    It's always bothered me that the gallows were allowed to1964stay up all day long. They weren't even taken down until late1965that evening. They were erected at 6:00 in the morning when1966hardly anyone was around.1967    Based on this CAST team and this digital data that was1968there, shouldn't the FBI be able to just go look at that same1969data and identify whose phones were pinging right at that area1970where the gallows were erected at 6:00 in the morning? Seems1971like that should be an easy--1972    Mr. Piehota. The same investigative model would apply.1973    Mr. Loudermilk. OK. Maybe this is something the current FBI1974could tackle. I've exceeded my time. We'll begin our second1975round. The Chair recognizes Mr. Nehls.1976    Mr. Nehls. Hey. Thank you, sir. I was running out of time,1977but I finished talking about that first breach. This entire1978document is about Donald Trump. It's about blaming Donald1979Trump. ``Donald Trump commanded--he ordered his followers to go1980to the Capitol to storm the Capitol.''1981    I find it interesting, because the first breach occurred 201982minutes before Trump's speech ended. Why would Trump supporters1983leave a Trump speech and breach the Capitol Grounds before the1984speech ever ended? I've been to rallies, this and that. When1985the boss is up there speaking, nobody leaves early. Nobody1986leaves early.1987    I'll tell you why: Because there was never a call to1988violence. There was never a call to violence or a call to storm1989the Capitol.1990    That was something the militia groups were craving and1991created on their own. The Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, antifa,1992Three Percen-ters--bad actors that day. Gotta say it: Bad1993actors. They were acting alone and not listening to Trump.1994Stewart Rhodes stated that, ``if Trump didn't do what they1995wanted, they would have to do it themselves.''1996    The January 6th resulted from a gross failure of1997intelligence, not the actions of Donald Trump.1998    Capitol Police Assistant Chief Yogananda Pittman was in1999charge of the intelligence division of the U.S. Capitol Police2000in days leading up to January 6th and produced a report, the2001``January 3rd Special Event Assessment,'' and stated, quote,2002``Congress itself is the target on January 6th,'' and, quote,2003``Protesters may be inclined to become violent,'' and, quote,2004``There have been some worrisome calls from protestors to come2005to these events armed.'' Another quote: ``The sense of2006desperation and disappointment may lead to more of an incentive2007to become violent.''2008    Even worse, Pittman testified to the Senate that she had2009shared the appropriate intelligence with the Assistant and2010Deputy Chiefs of the Capitol Police, which is unconditionally2011false. It was never sent or shared.2012    Why can I say that? I can say it with certainty because if2013you look at Harry Dunn, Officer Harry Dunn's testimony in the2014previous Committee, he states that, ``he believed that January20156th would just be like any other day. He had no independent2016reason to believe that there would be violence.'' In his own2017words on July 27, 2021, testimony, Harry Dunn stated, ``he2018thought there was going to be peaceful protests and received no2019threat warning from the chain of command.''2020    The question is, who lied? Harry Dunn, you're lying, or2021Yogananda Pittman, who's got a nice job. Pelosi gave her a nice2022capital--a nice job there in California.2023    Now, we know why the Capitol Police was so ill-prepared. We2024know why. Assistant Chief Yogananda Pittman never shared the2025intel.2026    Now, let's talk about the deployment of the National Guard.2027For the Capitol Police to request outside assistance, the three2028members of the Capitol Police Board must declare an emergency.2029This wasn't done--wasn't done until very late. Isn't it2030interesting that there is not a single word in the report from2031any of the three voting members on the board? How could there2032not be?2033    Finally, the subject of this hearing, the pipe bomb, only2034mentioned--guess what--five times in this appendix. It's in the2035appendix at the end of the report, even though the pipe bombs2036were by far the most serious thing that occurred that day, as2037they could've killed, maimed many people--the VP, the Vice2038President-elect of the United States. The previous committee2039nor the FBI cared. They didn't care about it at all.2040    Understand the effect of the discovery of the pipe bombs in2041the timeline.2042    The first pipe bomb was reported to law enforcement at204312:42 p.m., which drew half of the police--half of the police2044away from the Capitol Building. The officers began arriving two2045minutes later at 12:44 p.m. Then, the bike-rack perimeter is2046breached minutes later at 12:53 p.m.2047    Now, that security at the Capitol has been softened--it's2048smart. This was organized. This was an operation, folks. Then,2049at 12:59 p.m., six minutes later, Congress convened to certify2050the election. It's very interesting that the pipe bomb is2051reported just minutes before the joint session convenes.2052    Here's the key the American people need to understand: The2053FBI, Patel's FBI, didn't get any new information, no new2054information to find the pipe bomber. They had all the evidence2055to identify him and had been in possession of Christopher2056Wray's FBI for the entire Biden Administration.2057    It is extremely bizarre, folks. It's bizarre, because the2058January 6th investigation was the largest and most extensive in2059the history of the FBI. This is the article. The Wray FBI2060aggressively pursued and charged nearly 1,600 individuals in2061all 50 States, including elderly individuals who committed no2062acts of violence.2063    They identified and tracked these people down at breakneck2064speed using every tool at their disposal, left no stone2065unturned, when we had an FBI whistleblower disclose to us that2066they were even pulling agents off porn cases, child porn cases,2067so they could catch trespassing grandmas. For the pipe bomber,2068there was comparatively no effort to find this person.2069    I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record of today's2070hearing this CNN article titled, ``Biggest Investigation in FBI2071History Still Has Merrick Garland in the Hot Seat.''2072    I'd also like to enter into the record--this is good to2073help my colleague from Texas on the other side that talked2074about impeachments, impeachments, impeachments--November 6,20752024, the Los Angeles Times, ``Trump is elected 47th president,2076soundly defeating Harris to retake the White House.'' This is a2077beautiful one here.2078    Mr. Loudermilk. Without objection.2079    Mr. Nehls. Everybody read it. I yield back.2080    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman yields. The gentleman from2081Maryland, Mr. Raskin, is recognized.2082    Mr. Raskin. Thank you, Mr. Chair. It looks like a new2083conspiracy theory is born.2084    Originally, the pipe bomber was supposed to be an anti-2085Trump person, which was why the name wasn't revealed. Then,2086that's out the window when it turns out it's a pro-Trump2087election denier.2088    Well, then they were saying, ``No, it's an inside job. It2089was by a former Capitol Police officer.'' That's out the2090window. That's not who the person was.2091    Now, the claim is, ``Well, they got the person--yay for the2092FBI, hurray for Kash Patel--they got the person, but it took2093too long for them to do it.'' That's what the conspiracy theory2094has come to, and this is just pathetic.2095    Look, let's start with this. They tried to blame January20966th on antifa on January 6th. Donald Trump did it himself in a2097conversation with Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy called him up from2098his office, desperate, saying, ``We're being overrun. We're2099besieged here. You've gotta call off your people, Donald2100Trump.'' Trump said, ``Oh, it's not my people; it's antifa.''2101    McCarthy said, ``No.'' Effectively, he said, ``No.'' I'm2102paraphrasing here. He said, ``They're in my office. They're2103your people, Mr. President.'' Then, Trump said, ``Well, maybe2104they just care a little bit more about a fair election than you2105do, Kevin.'' Again, paraphrasing, but that's the sum and2106substance of the conversation.2107    Immediately, they wanted to try to pin it on antifa. That2108was the whole methodology. That's what Matt Gaetz did when he2109came to the floor, even after we were driven out of our2110chambers by MAGA, the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, and other2111extremists who had been called to storm the Capitol. Because2112you've got to go and ``fight like hell,'' Donald Trump said,2113``and if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a2114country anymore.'' They went to ``stop the steal.'' That was2115the slogan. They did exactly what they set out to do. Then,2116they tried to blame it on antifa. What a fraud it was.2117    Was there any evidence, Mr. Romano, that antifa was2118actually behind it? Did Donald Trump just pardon nearly 1,6002119antifa fighters? Is that what he did?2120    Mr. Romano. No, there was no evidence of that. In the2121hundreds of cases that I supervised, I saw no evidence that any2122person we charged was antifa or was motivated or driven by2123antifa.2124    Mr. Raskin. Well, if it wasn't antifa, surely it was2125undercover FBI agents who made all those people go out there2126and smash police officers in the face and storm the Capitol and2127try to overthrow the 2020 Presidential election, right?2128    What about the theory that this was really FBI sources,2129undercover sources, who did it?2130    Mr. Romano. I've seen no evidence of that. As I said2131before, there were informants who were present in the crowd,2132not at the direction of their FBI handlers. There were no2133undercover FBI agents directing the crowd. That is false2134information based on a statistic taken out of context.2135    Mr. Raskin. All right. Essentially, what are our colleagues2136inviting us to believe today?2137    Well, let's see. Ms. Hageman wants us to believe there was2138no insurrection, despite the fact that the House of2139Representatives voted that Donald Trump incited an2140insurrection. She wants us to believe it didn't happen, despite2141the fact that you can find calls replete throughout the crowd2142and throughout the extremist groups calling for an overthrow of2143the government, calling for the assassination of Mike Pence and2144Nancy Pelosi, calling for the killing of Members of Congress.2145No, that didn't happen.2146    They want us to believe that Trump, Giuliani, and Sidney2147Powell and their associates didn't lie by claiming the2148elections were stolen. In other words, they want us to believe2149the original lie that set America off on this path of chaos and2150division.2151    They want us to believe that Donald Trump actually won the21522020 Presidential election, which he lost by more than seven2153million votes, 306-232 in the electoral college, with more than215460 Federal and State court decisions, including by eight judges2155nominated to the bench by Donald Trump, rejecting and2156repudiating every claim of electoral fraud and corruption that2157Trump and his forces put forward in court, and they want to go2158back to it.2159    They want us to believe that January 6th was provoked by2160the FBI. Even Director Patel said that was false. Even Patel2161rejects that one.2162    They want us to believe that the Capitol Police are2163responsible for hundreds of rioters attacking them. Sergeant2164Gonell, who fought in Afghanistan and said that he saw no2165violence abroad that remotely compared to the medieval mayhem2166and violence unleashed on the police officers that day, that he2167was at fault for it? Sergeant Gonell, who had to resign from2168the force because of injuries to his rotator cuff, his2169shoulder, and his left foot, because he couldn't any longer2170meet the physical demands of the job, that this is something2171that he wanted? These officers who've suffered brain2172contusions, heart attacks, strokes; Brian Sicknick, who died2173the next day after injuries inflicted on him by the mob; that2174this was somehow their fault? It's obscene. It's absurd.2175    I certainly hope we can expect more out of this2176Subcommittee than that, Mr. Chair.2177    There are some lingering questions. Most of them could be2178answered by Donald Trump, who's never once testified under oath2179about what he did on January 6th other than sit on his hands2180and probably order hamburgers and french fries while he watched2181the whole scene on TV unfold. Did nothing to send out the2182National Guard, under his unilateral direct control in the2183District of Columbia.2184    If you don't believe me, look it up, Ms. Hageman. Look it2185up. The President controls the National Guard in the District2186of Columbia. I'll bet you a lunch with your former occupant of2187your office, your predecessor, Ms. Cheney, who is somebody who2188brought great honor to this institution.2189    Ms. Hageman. Great--OK.2190    Mr. Raskin. I'll tell you this: The truth is a resilient2191thing. We're not going to put up with a pack of lies in this2192Subcommittee and a bunch of conspiracy theories. We're not.2193We're not.2194    Have at it. Throw what you want against the wall. You'd2195better learn the first lesson they teach lawyers when you pass2196the bar: When you go to court, you'd better bring the evidence2197with you.2198    I yield back.2199    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman's time has expired. The2200gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Griffith, is now recognized.2201    Mr. Griffith. Let's talk about the evidence. If you learned2202that you're supposed to bring the evidence with you, I submit2203to my colleague he should've brought the evidence onto the2204National Guard. Because in our prior hearings held by Mr.2205Loudermilk, we discovered that not only did the President2206authorize the National Guard in advance of January 6th, but2207that offer was turned down, and then there was some obstruction2208on the National Guard getting here, because he gave the order2209for the National Guard to be brought, and the general in2210charge, according to four officers who were with the National2211Guard that day, with the commander of the Washington, DC,2212National Guard--four of them testified under oath that the2213general never transmitted that order for well over two hours2214after the President gave the order.2215    That's the evidence that's out there, and those are the2216facts on that.2217    Now, it was made in the prior hearing on this--somebody2218said, ``Well, why didn't the President just call directly?'' We2219all know what would happen. I said so at the time. We all know2220what would happen if the President had done that. They would've2221said he's not following the chain of command, because he's2222supposed to give the orders to the general, and the general is2223supposed to give the order to the National Guard. There was a2224failure there as well.2225    Now, that's not what we're here about today. We're here2226about the pipe bombing.2227    Let me say this to my colleague on the other side of the2228aisle: It took too long to capture the pipe bomber. It took too2229long. He threw that into his litany of conspiracies. He says2230it's now a conspiracy that it took too long to find the pipe2231bomber. I'm telling you, my friend, it took too long. That's2232not a conspiracy. That is the evidence and the facts. It took2233too long to find this individual, and there was sloppy work at2234the FBI.2235    Now, I'm concerned about our safety, because there's sloppy2236work all around on this thing, and I don't understand why.2237Because we saw in the previous investigation through the House2238Admin Subcommittee on Oversight, we saw a video where they2239bring in the detonation robot, or the robot to take apart or to2240make sure there's not a problem with one of the pipe bombs, and2241they didn't secure the area around it.2242    In the film, the Chair will agree; he saw it too--you see a2243pedestrian walking by. All the police are standing back. Here2244comes a pedestrian walking by where the pipe bomb is.2245    Mr. Piehota, does that make any sense? Why are you allowing2246pedestrians in the neighborhood where you're about to try to2247get a robot--you've sent a robot in to detonate, and you don't2248have the area secured? Does that make any sense to you?2249    Mr. Piehota. It makes no sense. The safety of the public2250would be your paramount objective first, to secure the area,2251clear the area of civilians, and make sure that there aren't2252any unnecessary personnel close to the device.2253    Mr. Griffith. It raises the issue--and I don't have any2254conspiracy--or, I have no idea why, but it raises the question,2255why? Maybe it was just sloppy work.2256    Mr. Piehota. I think you're looking at adrenaline, bad2257training--ineptitude.2258    Mr. Griffith. OK. All right. If you can do it quickly,2259because I've only got a minute and 50 seconds left because I2260got wound up about the National Guard, but Patel FBI created a2261Red Team. What's a Red Team? What's the process of setting it2262up? Who makes the decision to set it up?2263    Mr. Piehota. OK. A Red Team, it's a term of art. It's a2264review team. He did a case review team.2265    He took people who had certain backgrounds and2266investigative experience that were consistent with what he was2267looking to accomplish, put them together, gave them resources,2268gave them priority, and gave them the charter to take all this2269information. He removed all obstacles, and he gave them the2270charter to find out what's going on, look for any investigative2271gaps.2272    What the boss is interested in gets done. What the boss2273checks gets done well. That's what you saw here.2274    Mr. Griffith. Well, if he did that in 2025, do you think2275that, while the Wray team was focused on something else--and2276you mentioned that earlier--do you think that by 2024 or 20232277they would've been able to focus and do a Red Team in the Wray2278FBI if they thought that there was a reason to do so or they2279felt that it was important?2280    Because I'm concerned about the safety of people who go to2281the RNC and the DNC.2282    Mr. Piehota. The senior leadership did not make it a2283priority. The resources weren't dedicated. It didn't happen.2284    Mr. Griffith. The safety of Members of Congress going to2285their respective political party headquarters was not a2286priority for the FBI at that time.2287    Mr. Piehota. Did not appear so.2288    Mr. Griffith. I thank you very much. I yield back.2289    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman yields. The gentleman from2290Louisiana is recognized.2291    Mr. Higgins. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I ask2292unanimous consent to enter the criminal indictment of Mr. Brian2293J. Cole as the defendant in the pipe-bomb case.2294    Mr. Loudermilk. Without objection.2295    Mr. Higgins. Mr. Nantz, the investigation on the pipe2296bomber, that commenced under the Trump Administration FBI.2297Seemed to be initiated just based on a focused effort of2298leadership within the FBI to direct investigative assets and2299procedures to put, quote ``a new set of eyes'' on the existing2300evidence. That's where they intended to begin.2301    They had no way of knowing that the evidence that they were2302already in possession of, that the FBI had been in possession2303of since 2021, would produce a relatively short list of2304potential suspects based upon cellular analytics of possible2305cell phone numbers that could have planted these bombs. They2306had no way of knowing that the evidence in their possession2307that they were going to put a fresh set of eyes on would2308produce a solid suspect and, ultimately, probable cause for an2309arrest.2310    Their intention was just to review the existing material so2311that they had a good investigative foundation to move forward2312with an aggressive investigation and to solve the pipe-bomber2313case.2314    Does that sound like the kind of solid leadership you would2315expect out of the FBI?2316    Mr. Nantz. Yes, absolutely. That's what you would expect2317from what we used to call our country's leading law enforcement2318agency.2319    Mr. Higgins. Well, I concur. I think they're reclaiming2320that recognition--2321    Mr. Nantz. Uh-huh.2322    Mr. Higgins. --and that solving the pipe-bomber case was2323quite significant.2324    The cellular analytical data--is it true that the FBI and2325our intel services have contractors that specialize in the2326collection of that data and the analytics of that data? It's2327not necessarily a direct CAT FBI employees, but that the FBI2328itself uses contractors to provide some of that data as2329additional assets to the FBI's own CAT. Is that correct?2330    Mr. Nantz. Yes, to a limited degree, yes.2331    Mr. Higgins. To a limited degree. Would you say to a2332specialized degree?2333    Mr. Nantz. Absolutely.2334    Mr. Higgins. Thank you.2335    Let me just clarify, Mr. Chair and for Americans watching:2336Whistleblowers came forward--a particular whistleblower came2337forward in 2022 that is a specialized contractor for cellular2338analytical data that had initiated his own review of cell data2339after J6 happened and the J6 pipe-bomb event was revealed to2340America and that investigation was ongoing, and this2341whistleblower identified telephone numbers and provided them to2342the FBI and, we're advised, to the original J6 select Liz2343Cheney Committee--Subcommittee--the Select Committee, and that2344data went nowhere.2345    I ask again, Mr. Nantz, Mr. Speciale, good sir, Mr.2346Piehota, how is it possible that the FBI could be that inept?2347Would you say that it's reasonable to suspect that there was a2348purposeful intent to ignore the evidence that they were in2349possession of? Or is it more likely that the FBI was that2350inept?2351    Mr. Nantz?2352    Mr. Nantz. It's a matter of narrative. The controlling2353narrative at the time was that the threat to the American2354people was coming from the RMVE threat, the White supremacist2355threat. That was the constant--2356    Mr. Higgins. Well, how would they know without analyzing2357the data if it wasn't a MAGA Republican? How would they know?2358    Because that's how they identified alleged White2359supremacist domestic terrorists. If you were a MAGA guy, a MAGA2360American, you were in that category.2361    How you would know it was not a MAGA guy unless they had2362analyzed the data?2363    Mr. Nantz. Well, it's possible that they knew that Cole,2364perhaps in late 2021, was a Black male individual from2365Woodbridge, Virginia, that did not fit that narrative.2366    Mr. Higgins. You agree that's possible.2367    Mr. Nantz. It is possible, yes.2368    Mr. Higgins. Mr. Chair, I find that to be a reasonable and2369disturbing suspicion.2370    To my friend and colleague, the Ranking Member, I would2371suggest, it's not a conspiracy theory if it turns out to be2372true. We shall see.2373    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman yields. Mr. Raskin's2374recognized for a UC.2375    Mr. Raskin. Thank you very much. I've got several UC2376requests, Mr. Chair. First, ``Defense Secretary Christopher2377Miller: Trump Gave No Order to Prepare Troops Before January23786th.''2379    Second, Associated Press Fact Check: ``Pelosi Did Not Block2380the National Guard from the Capitol on J6.'' That's July 23,23812021.2382    Third, this is the decision of the United States District2383Court for the District of Columbia in RNC v. Nancy Pelosi,2384rejecting all the claims of procedural irregularities in the2385January 6th Committee that were voiced by the gentleman from2386Texas.2387    Fourth, Yahoo.com, ``Trump Forgets He Was President During2388Capitol Riot, Blames `THE BIDEN FBI' for Placing Agents in the2389Crowd in the Dead of Night on January 6th.''2390    Finally, just two others: This is the staff report that we2391did on the Minority side, Mr. Chair. ``One Year Later:2392Assessing the Public Safety Implications of President Trump's2393Mass Pardons of 1,600 January 6th Rioters and2394Insurrectionists.''2395    Then, finally, from Politico.com, ``Trump May Have2396Accidentally Pardoned the January 6 Pipe Bomber.''2397    Mr. Loudermilk. Without objection. The Chair now recognizes2398the gentlelady from Wyoming.2399    Ms. Hageman. The Ranking Member indicated that the first2400lesson that you teach lawyers is you better bring the evidence2401with you.2402    Another lesson that we learn is that you should also know2403the elements of the crime and the relevant statute if you're2404going to claim that somebody committed a crime.2405    It's a pretty slimy tactic to use the word ``insurrection''2406over and over and over and over and over again, and yet try to2407hide the fact that the gentleman who's sitting here before us2408today, who was responsible for prosecuting many of the people2409on January 6th, never once charged anybody with violating 182410U.S.C. 2383.2411    You never charged anybody with violating that statute. You2412never convicted anybody of violating that statute. Sitting here2413and using that word over and over again means absolutely2414nothing.2415    We are here today focusing on the pipe bomb because of what2416happened that day. It clearly played a pivotal role in2417facilitating the breach of the Capitol, and we need to get to2418the bottom of what happened there.2419    These devices were discovered outside the RNC and DNC2420within 20 minutes of the joint session, and the U.S. Capitol2421Police were forced to divide the forces while a crowd of2422protestors moved toward the Capitol.2423    The U.S. Capitol Police was not dealing with just the force2424division, but also with the fact that 500 bike racks had been2425removed the night before.2426    Who ordered the removal of the 500 bike racks and why? The2427staff of the Architect of the Capitol testified that the2428evening of January 5th, roughly around the time the pipe bombs2429were allegedly planted, the order came down to remove 500 bike2430racks from around the Capitol.2431    Mr. Piehota, can bike racks help law enforcement with crowd2432control and deterrence?2433    Mr. Piehota. Absolutely. They form a physical barrier2434between the crowd and a protected location, or they can be used2435to help funnel a crowd to or from a location.2436    Ms. Hageman. Well, can they also serve as a visual cue for2437nonlaw enforcement personnel about what lines they are not2438allowed to cross? Could removing them spell legal jeopardy for2439protestors who cannot identify what is the line of trespass?2440    Mr. Piehota. It creates ambiguity for the public. They2441don't know where those barriers are.2442    Ms. Hageman. Did this actually result in legal jeopardy for2443many of the people who were on the Capitol Grounds on January24446th?2445    Mr. Piehota. It ended up that way.2446    Ms. Hageman. OK.2447    According to the Select January 6th Committee's final2448report, quote,24492450        At 1:28 p.m., USCP requested the AOC deliver 400 additional2451        bike racks to the East Front to serve as protective barriers,2452        even though rioters were using bike racks as weapons. The pipe2453        bomb discovery at the DNC prevented the AOC from delivering2454        them.24552456Clearly, the Capitol Police viewed the bike racks as a2457necessary tool for that day, and their removal is absolutely2458baffling. This Subcommittee should focus on identifying who2459gave that order, why, when, and who was involved. We need to2460get to the bottom of this. The previous January 6th Committee2461didn't look into it. They're not the ones who actually2462investigated what happened here and why.2463    This statement is also clear that the impacts of the pipe2464bombs continue to be felt by the U.S. Capitol Police officers2465responding to the incident. Mr. Piehota, does this raise even2466more questions about why the Wray FBI did not take this pipe2467bomb investigation seriously?2468    Mr. Piehota. The Wray FBI did not prioritize this2469investigation. Again, their resources and their attention were2470split into the other events of January 6th. Over time, what we2471saw was then, I would say, a weak or inept case management2472approach where this investigation eventually stalled.2473    Ms. Hageman. OK. Mr. Speciale, do you have anything you2474would like to briefly add to the discussion today?2475    Mr. Speciale. That probably the biggest takeaway in all2476this is that there are 1,600 American citizens that were baited2477into a trespass trap to a great extent.2478    Yes, certainly, absolutely, some of them were violent, or2479investigations and prosecutors were warranted. I have an2480estimate that it was almost a billion dollars that was spent on2481prosecuting American citizens. It's a lot of money that we2482spent on trying to prosecute patriotic American citizens.2483    Then, you add on top of that the thousands of American2484citizens that, like myself, were also weaponized against for2485deterrence purposes, all the tactical resources. It was really2486a terror campaign.2487    I would refer you to the National Counterterrorism reports2488available on my website, and it's highlighted where they want2489an FBI domestic terrorism statute, quote, ``for deterrence2490purposes.'' They want to be able to silence free speech. They2491did that with all this.2492    The cause, bottom line, is 51 intelligence officers' memo,2493Hunter Biden laptop. It's all these things where the American2494citizens that showed up that day were at their wits' end on2495having faith in their government. They were vulnerable, as I2496warned, they were vulnerable.2497    Ms. Hageman. Well, then, Hunter Biden is a good name to2498bring forward with Mr. Romano here when we talk about the2499appropriateness of pardons.2500    Mr. Nantz, do you have anything to very briefly add?2501    Mr. Nantz. One of the biggest things that the American2502people need to take away from this is the understanding of how2503dangerous narrative-led investigations can be. What we have2504going on here in large measure are narratives driven by the2505Biden White House through the Garland DOJ. These are, of2506course, communications happening headquarters to headquarters.2507    Director Wray, as any leader, can present the commander's2508intent without explicitly doing so. If he's getting2509communications from his boss, who is the Attorney General, that2510the narrative needs to be, ``We need to prioritize and stick2511with the J6 insurrection narrative, the pipe bomber narrative,2512or the pipe bomber investigation,'' in my opinion, was2513deprioritized because of that narrative coming from potentially2514the White House.2515    Ms. Hageman. Well, I appreciate your testimony. Thank you2516for being here. Thank you for being willing to expose this.2517    With that, I yield back.2518    Mr. Loudermilk. The gentleman from Maryland is recognized2519for a UC.2520    Mr. Raskin. Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is just the website2521from the District of Columbia National Guard stating the D.C.2522National Guard is the only National Guard unit which reports2523only to the President.2524    Then, I would like to submit for the record, also under UC,252518 U.S.C. 2384, defining conspiracy ``to overthrow, put down,2526or to destroy by force the Government of the United States . .2527. or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to2528prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the2529United States,'' as seditious conspiracy, which is synonymous2530with insurrection.2531    Mr. Loudermilk. Without objection. I now recognize myself2532for the final few moments of questioning.2533    Mr. Romano, you had mentioned to Mr. Griffith earlier--and2534correct me if I'm wrong--that you were not aware of FBI agents2535being inside the Capitol during the violence on January 6th.2536    Mr. Romano. What I said was that I wasn't aware of FBI2537agents being undercover in the crowd or inciting action of the2538crowd. I know that FBI agents went to the Capitol as part of2539the law enforcement response.2540    Mr. Loudermilk. OK. Yes. We just found that out recently,2541in the last few months, that over a hundred FBI agents were2542deployed as crowd control, which is something that they're2543really not supposed to do, according to after-action reports2544that we've read. That apparently was never made public during2545the trials.2546    Did you ever have an FBI agent, one of those agents there,2547testify on behalf of the defense or the prosecution?2548    Mr. Romano. I had FBI agents testify. Typically, they were2549case agents who were part of the investigative team who--2550    Mr. Loudermilk. These agents would have been witnesses.2551    Mr. Romano. Oh, no--2552    Mr. Loudermilk. Because they were in the crowd, but nobody2553knew they were in the crowd.2554    Mr. Romano. The witnesses who testified in my cases were2555typically Capitol Police and MPD officers.2556    Mr. Loudermilk. OK. What I'm getting at is, would they be2557someone who could be compelled to testify as a witness had it2558been known that they were there witnessing some of this?2559    Mr. Romano. If they were used for crowd control, I'd be2560skeptical--2561    Mr. Loudermilk. If they were inside the Capitol when things2562were going on, would they not be a witness either for defense2563or prosecution?2564    Mr. Romano. It's possible.2565    Mr. Loudermilk. If the FBI held that back that they were2566there, is that not withholding evidence that could be2567exculpatory?2568    Mr. Romano. I would struggle to think how it's exculpatory.2569Most things in the Capitol were recorded by cameras, which we2570produced.2571    Mr. Loudermilk. There are plenty of areas that are not2572covered by cameras. I've watched most of the footage.2573    Mr. Romano. Sure.2574    Mr. Loudermilk. OK. Thank you. Let me clear something2575regarding the D.C. National Guard before I move on to my final2576question.2577    The gentleman from Maryland is right, the President does2578have the power to deploy the D.C. National Guard, but there is2579something that is more powerful than the President, and that is2580Constitution of the United States and the separation of powers.2581He cannot just send the National Guard, unless the National2582Guard is requested by the Legislative Branch.2583    There were multiple requests made by the former Chief of2584Police for National Guard before the request to call them was2585given, and that was only after shots were fired in the Capitol.2586    That request was made to the Department of Defense in the2587one hour on January 6th. However, the D.C. National Guard was2588not deployed, the order was not given to them for more than25893\1/2\ hours after the request was made.2590    On January 3rd, according to General Milley's own2591testimony, which I have not only his testimony that he gave to2592the D.C. National Guard--or to the Department of Defense IG--2593but also in his daily log that we've had for some time.2594    On January 3rd, he reported that President Donald J. Trump2595told him to have the D.C. Guard ready to deploy to keep the2596people safe and what other resources he may need to keep the2597people safe on January 6th.2598    That was delegating to the Department of Defense. There was2599no question that that was done because there were plenty of2600discussions, which we have the evidence through depositions and2601transcribed interviews, between the officials who were there2602and the DOD IG. The discussion was whether or not we should go2603ahead and deploy them. They knew that they had the authority to2604deploy the D.C. National Guard.2605    There was a lot of concern over optics. One of the TIs--or2606one the DOD officials said: ``We did not want it to appear that2607we were participating in an insurrection.''2608    If you believe it was an insurrection, by holding the D.C.2609National Guard back, therefore, you participated, right,2610because they were there to help. They would have been a huge2611deterrent had they been there when Chief Sund originally2612requested them.2613    I just want to clear the record on that, and there is2614evidence to that.2615    Mr. Nantz, is it plausible, given the high-profile nature2616of this case, that the Biden DOJ influenced how the FBI2617prioritized the pipe bomber's apprehension?2618    Mr. Nantz. Yes, that's the point that I've been making2619throughout this proceeding, is that there was a narrative that2620was being pushed by the Garland DOJ.2621    When you have a careerist like Director Wray, individuals2622like that aren't really motivated to push back on narratives2623that they disagree with.2624    In large part that's what happened. You had a narrative2625that was being presented by the Attorney General and was2626communicated to the FBI Director. Therefore, that led to the2627depriori-tization of the pipe bomb case.2628    Mr. Loudermilk. Well, thank you for that.2629    There is evidence pointing out that Brian Cole, Jr., was2630present in all three of the FBI's most obvious evidentiary2631buckets: Cell phone data, license plate reader data, and2632financial transactions.2633    Is it plausible that FBI investigators knew Cole's identity2634as early as February 2021?2635    Mr. Nantz. It's not just plausible, I think it's likely.2636    Mr. Loudermilk. If you could remind us, what's your2637experience with the FBI?2638    Mr. Nantz. Well, 20-year veteran with the FBI. I started2639out in the Miami Field Office working counterintelligence and2640moved on to dignitary protection, and then finally as a2641supervisory special agent over ground surveillance and aviation2642assets.2643    Mr. Loudermilk. There's been a lot of talk about conspiracy2644theories and narratives. Quite often they can interconnect,2645right? What to one person is a conspiracy theory, to another2646could be defined as a narrative.2647    I would submit that there is plenty of narrative that came2648out of the former Select Committee on January 6th that just is2649not factual, such as the D.C. National Guard. In fact, they2650reported they took what the DOD IG at the time told them, that2651the D.C. National Guard was not ready. However, they were2652sitting ready at the Armory as early as daybreak, because they2653had been--they mustered, and they were recalled, ready to2654deploy, because of Donald Trump's order.2655    The handwriting of a note that the Select Committee2656attributed to one of the witnesses, which a handwriting2657analysis clearly defined and identified, a nine-year-old can2658look at the handwriting of this note and identify that it was2659one of the counsels at the White House.2660    There are a number of statements, blatant statements made2661in the January Select Committee's report that just aren't--they2662just don't pass the evidentiary test because the evidence is2663opposite.2664    It still confounds my wisdom is why was no one on that side2665interested in the pipe bomb when it was a Democrat Vice2666President-elect who was within feet of the pipe bomb. There's2667basically no reference to that in the report.2668    Before we adjourn, I do want to submit a couple of things2669for the record.2670    An article, ``Governor Pritzker's Sanctuary Illinois2671Released More than 1,700 Criminal Aliens, Including Murderers,2672Pedophiles, and Kidnappers.''2673    An article, ``Sanctuary New York Released Nearly 7,0002674Criminal Illegal Aliens, Including Murderers, Terrorists, and2675Sexual Predators.''2676    That's evidence--there's been a lot of talk about pardons2677in here. There's definitely evidence here that violent2678offenders are regularly being released back into the community2679by some of my colleagues and friends on the other side of the2680aisle.2681    This is a press release from September 20, 2024,2682``Transcripts Show President Trump's Directives to Pentagon2683Leadership to `Keep January 6 Safe' Were Deliberately2684Ignored.''2685    Also, an article from August 28, 2024, ``Pelosi admits2686blame for `stupidity' in Jan. 6 security failures in new2687released video: `I take full responsibility.' ''2688    Without objection.2689    This concludes today's hearing. We thank the witnesses for2690appearing before the Select Committee.2691    Without objection, all Members will have five legislative2692days to submit additional questions in writing for the2693witnesses or additional materials for the record.2694    Without objection, this hearing is adjourned.2695    [Whereupon, at 4:41 p.m., the Select Subcommittee was2696adjourned.]26972698    All materials submitted for the record by Members of the2699Select Subcommittee To Investigate the Remaining Questions2700Surrounding January 6, 2021, can be found at: https://2701docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=118824.27022703                                 [all]