Federal Judge Rejects Brian Cole Jr.'s Attempt to Apply Trump's Pardons in Capitol Riot Case
A federal judge has rejected Brian Cole Jr.'s argument that President Trump's pardons applied to him. Cole was accused of planting pipe bombs at the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021. Fortunately, the devices were discovered before any harm was done. Cole faced charges of interstate transportation of explosives, malicious attempt to use explosives, and terrorism while armed.
Trump issued pardons to nearly 1,600 defendants involved in the Capitol riot on his second day in office. However, the judge ruled that the language of Trump's pardon did not cover Cole's case. Cole's attorney argued that the sweeping pardons should apply to his client, but the judge disagreed. The judge pointed out that the pardon specifically excluded Cole based on the timeline of events.
Despite Cole's attorney's arguments, the judge, a Biden appointee, rejected the motion to dismiss the charges against Cole. The judge emphasized that the language of Trump's pardon did not encompass Cole's case. Cole's attempt to use the pardons to his advantage was unsuccessful, and he will continue to face the charges against him.