WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI made an arrest on Thursday in its nearly 5-year-old investigation into who placed pipe bombs in Washington on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

The arrest marks the first time investigators have settled on a suspect in an act that had long vexed law enforcement, spawned a multitude of conspiracy theories and remained an enduring mystery in the shadow of the dark chapter of American history that is the violent Capitol siege.

The official who described the arrest was not authorized to publicly discuss a case that has not yet been made public and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The arrest took place Thursday morning, and the suspect is a man, the official said. No other details were immediately available, including the charges the man might face.

The pipe bombs were placed on the evening of Jan. 5, 2021, near the offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees in the District of Columbia. Nobody was hurt before the bombs were rendered safe, but the FBI has said both devices could have been lethal.

In the years since, investigators have sought the public’s help in identifying a shadowy subject seen on surveillance camera even as they struggled to determine answers to basic questions, including the person’s gender and motive and whether the act had a clear connection to the riot at the Capitol a day later when supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the building in a bid to halt the certification of the Republican’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Seeking a breakthrough, the FBI last January publicized additional information about the investigation, including an estimate that the suspect was about 5-foot-7, as well as previously unreleased video of the suspect placing one of the bombs.

The bureau had for years struggled to pinpoint a suspect despite hundreds of tips, a review of tens of thousands of video files and a significant number of interviews.

In the absence of harder evidence, Republican lawmakers and right-wing media outlets promoted conspiracy theories about the pipe bombs. House Republicans also criticized security lapses, questioning how law enforcement failed to detect the bombs for 17 hours. Dan Bongino, the current FBI deputy director, floated the possibility last year before being tapped for his job that the act was an “inside job” and involved a “massive cover-up.”

But since arriving at the FBI in March, he has sought to deliver action to a restive base on the far right by promising that the pipe bombs investigation would be a top priority and defending the bureau’s work.

“We brought in new personnel to take a look at the case, we flew in police officers and detectives working as TFOs (task force officers) to review FBI work, we conducted multiple internal reviews, held countless in person and SVTC meetings with investigative team members, we dramatically increased investigative resources, and we increased the public award for information in the case to utilize crowd-sourcing leads,” he wrote in a long post on X last month.

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President Donald Trump’s name was added to the United States Institute of Peace building in D.C. Wednesday.

The change comes amid an ongoing legal battle over whether the Trump administration can dismantle the institute.

A lawyer for former USIP leadership and staff condemned the addition, saying it “adds insult to injury.”

The administration released a statement, saying the institute blew millions per year “while delivering no peace.”

It went on to say the building is now “beautifully and aptly named after a President who ended 8 wars in less than a year.”

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Washington, D.C. (12/03/25) — The Washington Spirit today announced the appointment of Haley Carter as the club’s President of Soccer Operations, effective December 1. Alongside Carter’s appointment, the Spirit has promoted Nathan Minion to General Manager on a permanent basis.

As President of Soccer Operations, Carter will serve as the club’s senior sporting executive, responsible for defining and executing the long-term vision and strategic plan for the Spirit’s soccer operations. In this role, she will oversee technical, performance, and player development functions, working closely with ownership, and the NWSL to align strategy, culture, and resources for sustained success.

As General Manager, Minion will report to Carter and continue to manage the day-to-day execution of the club’s sporting strategy, leading roster construction, player transactions, and salary cap management to ensure competitive excellence on the field.

“Haley represents exactly the type of leader we want driving our soccer operations forward,” said Michele Kang, majority owner of the Washington Spirit and Founder & CEO of Kynisca. “She brings unique experience as a former NWSL player and proven executive with a clear commitment to elevating women’s soccer. This new role reflects our continued investment in the Spirit’s infrastructure, supporting Nate and his team as we build a sustainable, world-class soccer organization.”

Carter brings a rare combination of experience as a player, coach, and executive across the women’s game. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy and serving as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, she played professionally as a goalkeeper for the Houston Dash in the NWSL. She went on to coach internationally with the Afghanistan Women’s National Team and the Antigua and Barbuda Women’s National Team, where her work earned recognition from FIFPro. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Soccer Operations for the Orlando Pride, overseeing technical and performance departments and helping guide the club through a period of competitive growth and stability.

“To be part of Michele’s vision to set a new global standard in women’s football was an opportunity I could not pass up,” said Carter. “What Michele is building is truly special – a player-first investment model focused on sustainability, innovation, and growth. Washington has such a rich history in the NWSL and one of the most passionate fan bases in the sport, and I’m excited to help shape the next chapter of that story.”

Under Kang’s ownership, the Spirit has entered a new era of growth and professionalization, setting club attendance and revenue records while expanding its investment in performance, player development, and fan experience. Carter and Minion will work closely with Head Coach Adrian Gonzalez and Sporting Director James Hocken to build on the Spirit’s successful 2025 season and further strengthen the club’s competitive foundation.

About The Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012, and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.