Suspect accused of planting pipe bombs on eve of January 6 faces new charges
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Brian Cole Jr., accused of placing pipe bombs near the DNC and RNC headquarters before the January 6 Capitol attack, now faces additional felony charges including attempting to use weapons of mass destruction and terrorism while armed.
- The FBI confirmed the pipe bombs were functional but did not explode; Cole was arrested in December and initially pleaded not guilty to the original charges.
- A judge ordered Cole to remain in custody pre-trial, citing him as a significant danger to the community and rejecting proposals for home confinement with GPS monitoring.
- Cole told investigators he believed the 2020 election was interfered with and planted the bombs out of frustration, targeting both parties because he disliked them and intended to protest election results.
- Authorities noted Cole did not intend to target the joint session of Congress during the Capitol riot, which was aimed at disrupting the certification of the 2020 election outcome.
