A Virginia man accused of planting two pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic National Committees on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot pleaded not guilty Friday to federal explosives charges.
Brian Cole Jr., 30, entered his plea during an arraignment in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., responding “not guilty” when asked how he wished to proceed. The hearing marked Cole’s first appearance on the federal charges more than a month after his arrest, a delay prosecutors attributed to the holiday recess, when a grand jury was not in session.
Cole faces charges of transporting explosives and attempting to use an explosive device in connection with the two pipe bombs discovered on Jan. 6, 2021, near the RNC and DNC headquarters. The devices did not detonate.
Prosecutors allege Cole planted the bombs late on the night of Jan. 5, 2021. The following morning, their discovery prompted a large law enforcement response that diverted police resources as riots broke out at the U.S. Capitol during Congress’s certification of the 2020 presidential election.
Cole has remained in custody since his arrest in December at his parents’ home in Virginia. His attorneys are seeking review of a magistrate judge’s decision ordering him detained, arguing he does not pose a danger to the public. A hearing on that request is scheduled for Jan. 28.
Defense attorneys have argued the alleged devices were incapable of exploding and noted that Cole has no history of violence. They have also pointed to his mental health diagnoses, including autism, describing him as someone who adheres to a rigid daily routine and lives a largely secluded life.
The case has drawn intense scrutiny in part because the pipe bomb investigation remained unsolved for nearly five years, fueling speculation and conspiracy theories. Surveillance footage released by the FBI showed a masked individual placing the devices, but authorities did not publicly identify a suspect until Cole’s arrest.
JAN. 6 PIPE BOMB SUSPECT BRIAN COLE JR. HIT WITH FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTMENT
According to prosecutors, Cole told FBI agents during a lengthy interview after his arrest that he believed the 2020 presidential election was stolen, offering a possible motive for the bomb placements, while also saying he had disagreements with both political parties. He spent hours speaking with investigators and allegedly confessed to laying the pipe bombs.
If convicted, Cole faces significant prison time under federal explosives statutes. The case is assigned to a U.S. district judge, with further proceedings expected later this month.
