Federal Judge Orders Suspect In Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Case To Stay Behind Bars
A federal judge ruled Friday that the man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on the eve of January 6, 2021, will remain in jail as his case proceeds.
Brian Cole Jr., 30, was arrested last month and charged with two federal counts related to transporting and attempting to detonate explosive devices. His attorneys asked the court to place him under house arrest while he awaits trial, citing diagnoses of autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder and arguing that he does not pose a danger to the public.
Prosecutors opposed the request, warning that releasing Cole would place him back in circumstances similar to those in 2020, when he was allegedly researching pipe bombs and planning the attacks. U.S. District Judge Matthew Sharbaugh agreed with the government and ordered Cole held without bail.
“Although home incarceration and a GPS monitor would provide some check against Mr. Cole’s ability to carry out any menacing or dangerous conduct in the community, the Court is simply not satisfied these conditions rise to the necessary level,” Sharbaugh wrote. He pointed to the severity of the alleged threat, including Cole’s reported acquisition and retention of bombmaking components and his alleged ability to construct and deploy explosive devices in public places.
According to the Department of Justice, Cole wiped his cellphone 943 times after allegedly planting the pipe bombs and continued doing so until shortly before his arrest. His defense team argued that the repeated wiping was tied to his OCD rather than an effort to conceal evidence. They also emphasized that Cole has no prior history of violence.
Cole, who is from Woodbridge, Virginia, was identified nearly five years after the devices were discovered. Investigators reviewed extensive purchase records, cellphone data, and license plate information before linking him to the case. Federal authorities say Cole confessed to planting the bombs and expressed support for President Donald Trump. In a videotaped statement, he allegedly said he wanted people to “speak up” about the 2020 election and claimed voters felt their votes were being disregarded.
However, court filings note that Cole began purchasing materials used in the pipe bombs as early as May 2019, well before the 2020 election dispute. Authorities say he set the devices to detonate one hour after placement, though neither bomb exploded. Cole reportedly told investigators he felt “pretty relieved” when he learned they had not gone off.
“The defendant admitted that he set both devices to detonate 60 minutes after he placed them,” the Justice Department stated. “His failure to accomplish his objectives does not mitigate the profoundly dangerous nature of his crimes.”
FBI Director Kash Patel has cited Cole’s arrest as an example of failures under the Biden administration, arguing the case remained unsolved for nearly five years due to incompetence or intentional negligence.
If convicted, Cole faces up to 30 years in prison.