From Defender to Bomber? The Mystery of a Capitol Police Officer Allegedly Behind Jan 6 Pipe Bombs”

Former Capitol Police Officer Shauni Rae Kerkhoff is a forensic match to the long-sought Jan. 6 pipe bomber. Photos by FBI, Capitol Police, Temple University

Published November 9, 2025

When the Alleged Bomber Wore a Badge

On the twilight of January 5, 2021, two pipe bombs were allegedly placed — one behind the Democratic National Committee (DNC) building and another near the Capitol Hill Club (just behind the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington D.C.). These devices were discovered early on January 6, 2021, drawing law‑enforcement attention and disrupting the timeline of events at the Capitol.

For more than four years, the identity of the bomber remained unknown. But in November 2025, a convergence of investigative claims from conservative media outlets pointed to a startling possibility: the suspect may have been a former officer of the United States Capitol Police (USCP) — Shauni Rae Kerkhoff.

Shauni Kerkhoff – Capitol Police officer, alleged J6 pipe bomber, and current employee at US intel.

The Core Claim: Who Is Kerkhoff?

A forensic analysis of a female former U.S. Capitol Police officer’s gait is a 94%-98% match to the unique stride of the long-sought Jan. 6 pipe-bomb suspect, according to a Blaze News investigation confirmed by several intelligence sources.

A source close to a congressional investigation of Jan. 6 additionally told Blaze News that evidence has emerged recently pointing toward law enforcement possibly being involved in the planting of the pipe bombs.

A software algorithm that analyzes walking parameters — including flexion (knee bend), hip extension, speed, step length, cadence, and variance — rated Shauni Rae Kerkhoff, 31, of Alexandria, Va., as a 94% match to the bomb suspect shown on video from Jan. 5, 2021. The veteran analyst who ran the analysis for Blaze News stated that based on visual observations the program can struggle with, he personally pegged the match at closer to 98%.

Kerkhoff, who was a Capitol Police officer for four and a half years, left the department in mid‑2021 for a security detail at the Central Intelligence Agency, sources told Blaze News. CIA spokeswoman Liz Lyons stated that the subject worked in campus security.

The FBI, which failed to solve the case in nearly five years of investigation but indicated that it was closing in after Blaze News brought its investigation to intelligence sources, was feet from the Falls Church address of the pipe bomb suspect days after Jan. 6, according to the Blaze News investigation. Former FBI Special Agent Kyle Seraphin realized Friday that he was doing surveillance next door to the woman now suspected of being the Jan. 6 pipe bomber.

“The FBI put us one door away from the pipe bomber within days of January 6, and we were deliberately pulled away for no logical or logically investigative reason,” Seraphin told Blaze News. “And everything about that tells me that they were involved in a cover-up and have been since day one.”

The prospect of a Capitol Police officer being the perpetrator, if confirmed, could recast the entire story of Jan. 6. It could start to unravel the carefully crafted, zealously defended Democrat narrative that massive crowds of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol as part of an insurrection to keep Trump in office and deny Joseph R. Biden Jr. the presidency.

At the same time, while the FBI was not solving the pipe-bomb mystery, it was carrying out the largest investigation in its history to hunt down the thousands of Americans who went to the Capitol after Trump’s Jan. 6 speech at the Ellipse. The FBI under Christopher Wray worked in concert with the Biden Department of Justice to put hundreds of Trump supporters in prison.

Timeline & Why It Matters

1. Jan 5, 2021 (Evening): The alleged bomber places devices near the DNC building and another at the Capitol Hill Club/RNC area. Video shows a hoodie‑wearing figure.

2. Jan 6, 2021: The devices are discovered, drawing resources to those locations. The joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote was underway.

3. Investigation stalls for years. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) offered rewards (up to ~$490,000 per one article) and said it had done “thousands of interviews, 40,000+ videos, 500+ tips.”

4. November 2025: The investigative articles appear, claiming strong forensic and intelligence‑source links to Kerkhoff. If true, this would dramatically change the narrative around Jan 6.

Why it matters: If a law‑enforcement officer — particularly from the Capitol Police — was the bomber, it raises questions about the official narrative of Jan 6, resources diverted, investigative integrity, and institutional accountability. The Blaze article states:

“The prospect of a Capitol Police officer being the perpetrator … could recast the entire story of Jan. 6.”

The Evidence & Gaps

Strengths of the claim

• The reported gait analysis match is strong (94‑98%). If true, that is compelling forensic evidence.

• The subject’s background (CDU, training officer) places her at the Capitol with potential access and knowledge of security operations.

• The oddity of the SmarTrip card trace and proximity of the bomber’s address to her residence raise additional questions.

Significant gaps / caveats

• None of the major public criminal filings (as of these reports) appear to charge Kerkhoff. The reporting uses phrases like “sources say” and “if true”.

• The gait‑analysis, while notable, is software/human‑analyst based and may be challenged in court for reliability.

• The institutions (FBI, USCP, DOJ) are reported as unresponsive or denying knowledge of certain aspects. For example, former USCP Chief Steven Sund claimed he had “no awareness of any Capitol Police officer involvement in the pipe‑bomb planting”.

• Public documentation is limited; much of the chain of custody, video evidence and institutional oversight remains opaque.

• Media outlets providing these claims are themselves politically aligned, so some readers will call for independent corroboration before accepting the story.

Implications & Questions

• Deep-State Concerns: If a former Capitol Police officer was behind the pipe bombs, it raises the question of whether elements within the federal law-enforcement apparatus actively sought to manipulate or sabotage events surrounding Jan 6. This feeds into broader concerns about the “deep state” influencing narratives and investigations.

• Narrative Shift: Conservative audiences may view this as validation that the mainstream portrayal of Jan 6 — as solely driven by protestors — is incomplete or potentially misleading. Insider actions could have been used to justify aggressive crackdowns or political messaging against certain groups.

• Institutional Accountability: How many other instances might exist where federal agencies failed to investigate or even covered up misconduct by insiders? This story underscores the need for transparency and oversight within the Capitol Police, FBI, and DOJ.

• Media Bias & Reporting: The left-leaning media has largely ignored or downplayed these claims, reinforcing perceptions of selective coverage. Conservative outlets amplifying the story highlight the tension in how information is framed depending on political alignment.

• Public Trust & Security: For conservatives, the allegation that someone inside law enforcement may have created chaos for political purposes further erodes trust in federal institutions and reinforces calls for independent oversight and accountability.

• Policy & Legal Implications: Should these allegations be confirmed, there may be grounds for congressional inquiries, internal reforms, or even legal action against those who allowed insider threats to go unchecked.

 Overall Takeaway:

The possibility that a former Capitol Police officer could have been behind the Jan 6 pipe bombs challenges the official narrative and exposes serious questions about the integrity of federal law-enforcement institutions. For conservatives, this story underscores a pattern: powerful insiders may manipulate events to shape political outcomes while ordinary citizens face the consequences.

If verified, this revelation could rewrite the understanding of Jan 6, highlighting not only the actions of protestors but also the hidden machinations of those sworn to protect the Capitol. It emphasizes the urgent need for accountability, transparency, and independent oversight within agencies like the Capitol Police, the FBI, and the DOJ.

Until conclusive evidence emerges, the story remains an explosive allegation—but one that cannot be ignored. For those committed to preserving law, order, and constitutional principles, the question is clear: Who is protecting the people when the insiders themselves may be the threat?

SOURCES: THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – Capitol Police Officer Shauni Kerkhoff Identified as J6 Bomber – Testified to Firing Pepper Balls on J6 Crowd – Then Months Later Went to Work Security at CIA

TOWNHALL – *If* That’s the J6 Pipe Bomb Suspect, This Story Has Taken Another Wild Turn

THE BLAZE MEDIA – Former Capitol Police officer a forensic match for Jan. 6 pipe bomber, sources say