(NewsNation) — A newly released Department of Homeland Security internal report reveals that then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris came within 20 feet of a viable pipe bomb during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, exposing another security lapse by the U.S. Secret Service.
The report, issued by the DHS Inspector General, details how Harris’ motorcade passed close to an explosive device planted outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters the night before.
Two Capitol Police officers discovered the explosive device at the DNC building even though Secret Service K-9 teams had swept the area, failing to detect the bomb.
The bomb’s proximity to Harris has been previously reported, but this report provides the first detailed account of the Secret Service’s actions that day and the extent of the danger.
According to the report, the Secret Service “had not employed all its explosive detection tactics and measures for the security sweep.” The agency’s security checks did not include the exterior area where the pipe bomb was placed.
The report also noted that the Secret Service did not deploy the necessary assets for a comprehensive sweep, including a technical security division site coordinator or an explosive ordnance disposal team.
At the time, Secret Service policies required fewer assets for elected officials who had not yet been sworn in. The agency has since updated its protocols to include additional resources for “elect” protectees.
This incident follows recent criticism of the Secret Service for security failures that led to an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
The FBI continues to search for the individual responsible for planting the bombs outside both the DNC and Republican National Committee buildings in 2021.