Dan Bongino, the newly appointed FBI Deputy Director, has previously accused the bureau of being involved in planting pipe bombs ahead of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. On his podcast, he claimed the FBI knows the suspect’s identity but is hiding it, calling it “the biggest scandal in FBI history.”

Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and NYPD officer, is a prominent conservative media personality known for promoting deep-state conspiracy theories. He alleged that law enforcement planted the bombs to frame Trump supporters. The bombs were placed near the Democratic and Republican National Committees, and their origins remain unknown.

Kash Patel, the newly confirmed FBI Director, has also pushed similar claims. Both figures are set to reshape the FBI under President Trump, who has long criticized the bureau.

A White House spokesperson defended Bongino, praising his experience and dedication. The FBI declined to comment, and Bongino did not respond to CNN’s inquiry.

Bongino has also deleted past tweets about the “deep state” and January 6, fueling speculation. He suggested that if the FBI’s role were revealed, they would claim it was a “training exercise” gone wrong.