Man Accused of Planting Pipe Bombs Faces New Charges: Attempted Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism
A man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot now faces additional felony charges, as per a new indictment revealed on Wednesday. Brian Cole Jr. was initially charged with transporting and planting the IEDs at the DNC and RNC headquarters. The new indictment includes charges of attempting to use weapons of mass destruction and committing an act of terrorism while armed.
The FBI confirmed that the bombs were viable but did not detonate. The case had been unsolved for years, with the Trump administration prioritizing its resolution. Cole pleaded not guilty to the initial charges and has yet to be arraigned on the new indictment. In January, he was ordered to be detained in jail pending his trial.
According to court documents, Cole expressed concerns about the 2020 election being tampered with and felt the need to speak up. He detailed the construction, transportation, and planting of the pipe bombs during a 90-minute interview with investigators. Cole claimed he was not targeting the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, when supporters of President Trump stormed the Capitol.
Despite claiming not to be a political person, Cole reportedly purchased bomb-making materials between 2018 and 2020. His lawyers argued that the charges against him are closely tied to the events of Jan. 6 and sought dismissal based on Mr. Trump's pardons for Jan. 6 rioters. The Justice Department refuted this, stating that Cole's actions were not covered by the pardons.
The Justice Department emphasized that Cole did not fall under the categories specified in Mr. Trump's proclamation of pardons on Jan. 20, 2025, as he had not been identified, charged, or convicted at that time. The investigation into the pipe bombs continued despite the pardons.