A recent report from the Department of Homeland Security’s internal watchdog sheds light on the challenges faced by the U.S. Secret Service during the chaotic events of January 6, 2021. On that day, a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump violently stormed the U.S. Capitol, posing significant security risks to high-ranking officials including the president, vice president, and vice president-elect.
The report, obtained by ABC News, offers a detailed account of how Kamala Harris, who was then vice president-elect, came dangerously close to a “viable” pipe bomb planted outside the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) headquarters. The explosive device, hidden in the bushes, had been placed the night before but was not discovered during the Secret Service’s initial security sweeps of the area.
According to the report from DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, which was shared with Congress, the Secret Service’s advance sweeps of the DNC building failed to include the outdoor area where the pipe bomb was hidden. Two canine teams assigned to secure the building were reportedly “surprised” to learn that additional support would not be provided, although the report notes that Secret Service protocols at the time required fewer resources for officials who had been elected but not yet inaugurated.
