FBI Director Kash Patel has ordered the release of “hundreds” of documents detailing the agency’s Jan. 6 activities as well as the timely discovery of pipe bombs outside both Democratic and Republican headquarters in Washington, D.C. that month, in response to a subpoena from House Republicans. In a March 7th letter to lawmakers regarding the pipe bombs investigation, FBI Assistant Director of Congressional Affairs Marshall Yates described the disclosure as a “sign of good faith,” highlighting the effort to clarify FBI activities for the public.
“As a sign of good faith, we are providing this initial production more than a week ahead of the Committee’s subpoena deadline,” Yates wrote, according to a copy of the letter obtained by the Epoch Times. “But this will not be the last production we will send to satisfactorily comply with the Committee’s subpoena. To that end, we are diligently working to completely comply with your subpoenas.”
Yates turned over documents and details to the House Judiciary Committee in response to a request by chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) regarding alleged pipe bombs discovered near both Democratic and Republican headquarters in Washington in January 2021, as well as FBI communications with social media companies and investigations into threats against school officials. Due to “the diverse and broad subject matters implicated in your requests, the FBI is providing” an initial response, he said, adding that more documents will be identified and submitted to the House panel.
According to the FBI, the documents sent to Jordan’s office will include only “minimal redactions” to protect sensitive law enforcement details. Jordan had requested an extensive collection of documents and information regarding the FBI’s activities under former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who stepped down when President Donald Trump assumed office in January, the outlet reported.
This included allegations that Wray deliberately delayed an investigation into pipe bombs found near the headquarters during the January 6 Capitol breach, as well as the FBI’s use of confidential human sources on that day. Some Republicans had claimed that FBI informants were present on January 6—a claim later confirmed by the bureau’s inspector general in December 2024. While the report found that no undercover FBI agents were there, it did confirm that more than two dozen informants were present.
