Vice President Kamala Harris was alarmingly close to an active pipe bomb during the January 6 Capitol riots, a recent report discloses.
According to The Independent, a Homeland Security report highlighted significant lapses in the Secret Service's security on January 6, 2021, which left Vice President Kamala Harris near a deadly threat.
The detailed internal review by Homeland Security's watchdog revealed that Vice President Kamala Harris was less than 20 feet away from a live pipe bomb positioned near the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters. On that day, Harris was in the DNC building for nearly two hours before the explosive was discovered and she was evacuated.
The pipe bomb, located dangerously close to where Vice President Harris was stationed, was not detected by the Secret Service during their security sweep but was fortunately spotted by two Capitol Police officers. This explosive was one of two found that day; the other was near the Republican National Committee (RNC) building.
The Secret Service has admitted to shortcomings in its operations, particularly concerning elect protectees, which resulted in this oversight. The internal report criticized the agency for not employing more rigorous explosive detection methods confined to canine units on that day.
Amid the chaos, the violent assault on the Capitol led to five fatalities and numerous injuries, painting a grim picture of the day's events. The report also shed light on the inadequate threat assessments conducted by the Secret Service, which failed to predict the severity of the risks.
The device was placed the night prior, as pointed out in the Homeland Security report. The agency's failure signals a major operational lapse, drawing severe criticism and prompting leadership changes.
Acting Director of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, expressed his dismay as he recounted the errors in a Senate testimony. His remarks underscored the gravity of the security oversight. "I laid in a prone position to evaluate his line of sight. What I saw made me ashamed. As a career law enforcement officer and a 25-year veteran of the Secret Service, I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured."
The repercussions of these incidents were significant, leading to the resignation of Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle, who acknowledged the agency's operational failures. Ronald Rowe has temporarily stepped up as acting director amid ongoing scrutiny.
Following these events, the department has faced immense pressure to overhaul its security protocols. This pressure was compounded by a recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, highlighting ongoing security challenges.
The Homeland Security report has stirred concerns regarding the competence and readiness of the Secret Service, questioning its ability to protect high-profile political figures. Amid these concerns, there's an ongoing debate about balancing stringent security measures with the nuances of protecting democratic establishments.
A substantial FBI reward of $500,000 remains unclaimed for information leading to the arrest of the suspect who planted the bombs, suggesting the perpetrator remains at large. This has intensified the urgency for corrective measures and better protective procedures.
While the Vice President and others were unharmed, the incident exposed significant vulnerabilities within the Secret Service, prompting both administrative changes and a reevaluation of security protocols. With ongoing Senate investigations and heightened scrutiny, the Secret Service is at a pivotal moment, tasked with restoring faith and ensuring such oversights are not repeated.
