Judge says alleged D.C. pipe bomber Brian Cole Jr. isn't covered by Trump's Jan. 6 pardons

Key Points:

• A federal judge denied a motion to dismiss charges against Brian Cole Jr., who is accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic National Committees before the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
• Judge Amir Ali ruled that President Trump's pardons for Jan. 6 rioters only apply to those convicted of offenses related to that day, and Cole was not convicted when the pardon was issued.
• Cole's lawyers argued his actions were connected to the Jan. 6 events and should be covered by the pardon, but the Justice Department and the judge disagreed, emphasizing the pardon’s limitations.
• Cole faces charges including interstate transportation of explosives, malicious use of explosives, terrorism, and weapons-of-mass-destruction offenses; he has pleaded not guilty.
• The pipe bombs planted by Cole did not detonate but were considered viable by the FBI, and he was charged nearly five years after the bombs were placed.