January 6th: Pipe bomb suspect arrested in Washington, DC
The suspect who planted pipe bombs near the DNC and RNC offices before the January 6 Capitol riot is currently in custody.
A man accused of planting a pipe bomb at a political headquarters by Jan. 6, 2021, must remain jailed until trial, a federal judge ruled on Jan. 2, citing evidence that the suspect continued to collect bomb-making materials.
Brian Cole was arrested in early December after a nearly five-year investigation on charges of using an explosive device to harm or threaten another person and destroying property. The two bombs are believed to have been planted on the night of January 5, 2021, near the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican National Committees near the U.S. Capitol.
Law enforcement discovered the device on January 6, the same day President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the certification of then-President-elect Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory.
Cole’s lawyers proposed that he be released ahead of trial under strict conditions, including that he remain at home and be monitored by GPS. The defense emphasized that he had no criminal history, had a family support network, and that the alleged crimes occurred several years ago.
But U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh wrote in a Jan. 2 opinion that Cole’s alleged crimes present a “staggering and grave danger.” In addition, after the incident, Kohl allegedly continued to purchase bomb-making materials, including metal pipes, wire and timers, until August 2022, Sharbaugh said. Cole allegedly kept the parts in his car and in a closet at his home.
“While this continued alleged activity is at least consistent with continued ‘bomb-making’ activity, as the government has described it, it tempers the idea that the five-year period from the underlying criminal activity to today reduces future risk,” Charbaugh wrote.
Law enforcement said Cole initially denied any involvement in planting the bomb after his arrest. He reportedly said he drove to Washington, D.C., on January 5 to participate in a protest in support of Trump’s false claim that he won the 2020 presidential election.
However, several hours later, Cole allegedly admitted to being the suspect seen in the surveillance footage and described how he assembled, transported, and placed the explosives.
