Report Identifies Potential Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Suspect With Ties To Federal Agencies

Investigators claim that gait analysis points to a former Capitol Police officer; questions mount over the federal response.

In a new report, Blaze News journalists Steve Baker and Joseph Hanneman claim to have identified a primary suspect in the still-unsolved case of the pipe bombs placed outside Republican and Democratic party headquarters on Jan. 5, 2021.

In an interview with The Blaze co-founder Glenn Beck, Baker said he believes the suspect — whom he and Hanneman have investigated for more than two years — has ties to a federal agency. If confirmed, the revelation could carry major implications.

Suspect Reportedly Tied to Capitol Police and CIA

The individual named in the report is Shauni Rae Kerkhoff, who served with the U.S. Capitol Police from 2018 to 2021 and later worked on a security detail for the Central Intelligence Agency. Kerkhoff has not been identified as a suspect by law enforcement, and the Capitol Police, FBI, and Department of Justice declined to comment on the report.

The identification hinges on gait analysis software that compared footage of Kerkhoff from Capitol Police security cameras on Jan. 6 to video of the hooded figure seen placing the bombs the night before. According to Blaze, the analysis showed a 94% match. The gait expert cited by the outlet estimated the match as high as 96% to 98%, based on stride length, cadence, and a minor right-leg limp reportedly linked to a past soccer injury.

Gait Analysis Raises Questions, but Legal Standing Varies

While gait analysis has been used in court cases internationally, experts caution that its reliability depends on video quality, angle, and frame rate. Blaze claims that the FBI’s public footage of the pipe bomber was intentionally “downsampled,” potentially obscuring motion data. Federal agencies have not responded to that claim.

Baker told Beck that he shared the findings with contacts inside a federal investigative agency and claimed the reaction was swift. According to Baker, one official reviewed the footage and responded, “She’s one of us!” That account has not been independently verified.

Unverified Surveillance Claims Add to Suspicion

Other aspects of the report remain unconfirmed. Blaze says Kerkhoff’s home in Alexandria, Virginia, appeared to be under surveillance as the story was being finalized. Former FBI Special Agent Kyle Seraphin told the outlet that in early January 2021, his team was assigned to a surveillance post “one door away” from Kerkhoff but was pulled off the assignment without explanation.

Seraphin has made similar claims in the past. The FBI has not corroborated them.

Jan. 6 Timeline Underscores Potential Impact

The discovery of the pipe bombs around 12:40 p.m. on Jan. 6 forced Capitol Police to divert resources shortly before the Capitol’s outer perimeter was breached. That timing has long fueled speculation about whether the devices were meant as a diversion.

If someone with law enforcement or intelligence ties were found to be responsible — a conclusion not provable by current evidence — it would raise new questions about the government’s handling of the case and the events of that day.

Federal Agencies Remain Silent as Lawmakers Seek Answers

The FBI has previously defended its investigation as extensive, citing over 900 interviews and review of 40,000 video files. Still, members of Congress remain skeptical. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has repeatedly pressed the FBI on whether it interviewed the plainclothes Capitol Police counter-surveillance officer who discovered the DNC bomb — a move he called basic investigative procedure.

Blaze also noted concerns voiced by lawmakers about the Secret Service’s muted response to the DNC device and inconsistencies in the FBI’s public statements. A video analyst known as “Armitas” told Blaze that FBI-released footage appeared to have an artificially lowered frame rate and that the bomber may have attempted to place devices at other nearby locations. None of those claims have been confirmed by federal authorities.

Public Disclosure Could Test Credibility of Institutions

Baker said he deliberately did not share the new findings with the FBI, accusing the bureau of a “cover-up” — though he offered no direct evidence for that claim beyond the lack of progress in the investigation.

Beck called the developments “one of the biggest scandals of my lifetime” and warned of political fallout if the suspect’s identity is officially confirmed.

According to Blaze, national security officials have begun receiving briefings in anticipation of further disclosures. But unless corroborated by independent sources or acknowledged by federal agencies, many of the report’s most serious implications remain speculative.

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