Former Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched a scathing attack on the Biden administration's Department of Justice, claiming it missed key evidence that could have led to the arrest of the alleged January 6 pipe bomb suspect years earlier. The criticism came during a press conference on Thursday following the arrest of 30-year-old suspect Brian Cole Jr.
Breakthrough in a Cold Case
The arrest was made not from a new tip or witness, but following an FBI review of existing evidence gathered at the time of the pipe bomb plot. On the eve of the January 6, 2021, riots, two explosive devices were left outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington DC. Bondi emphasised that the evidence used to identify Cole had been 'collecting dust' for years, alleging a 'total lack of movement' from the Biden White House on the case, which had fuelled numerous conspiracy theories while it remained unsolved.
Authorities stated in an affidavit that Cole, a five-foot-six bail bondsman from Virginia, lives with his mother in Woodbridge. While his precise motivation remains unclear, law enforcement sources indicate he is believed to have supported anarchist ideology.
The Evidence That Led to an Arrest
FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, joined Bondi at the press conference, praising their teams for cracking the cold case. The arrest came weeks after the FBI offered a $500,000 reward for information, but officials confirmed the reward was not paid out. Instead, Patel attributed the breakthrough to 'relentless' investigation.
The affidavit reveals that forensic evidence from the pipe bombs was crucial. This included tracking end caps purchased from four different Home Depot stores in Virginia. Cole allegedly bought bomb components meticulously from October 2019 to November 2020, including electrical wiring, battery connectors, and steel wool from various Home Depot and Lowe's outlets.
Shockingly, after allegedly planting the two devices on January 5, 2021, Cole continued purchasing bomb parts, buying more galvanized pipes on January 22 and a kitchen timer the following day. The bombs, constructed from threaded pipes, timers, and homemade black powder, never detonated but caused significant panic.
Surveillance and Lingering Questions
Surveillance footage from that evening showed a hooded suspect placing a backpack on South Capitol Street, donning glasses, and scanning the area before walking to the DNC headquarters at 7:54 pm and the RNC at 8:16 pm. Prosecutors say cell tower data placed Cole's phone in the vicinity, and license plate readers captured his 2017 Nissan Sentra near the locations that night.
Cole now faces charges of use of an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction, with Bondi suggesting additional charges may follow. The press conference offered few specifics, with officials citing the 'ongoing' nature of the case.
The arrest ends years of speculation and conspiracy theories, including recent false claims about a former Capitol Police officer. While potentially embarrassing for investigators who took years to make an arrest, Trump administration alumni were quick to praise the renewed investigative efforts initiated earlier this year. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who had previously speculated the plot might be an 'inside job' during his time as a conservative podcaster, expressed satisfaction at the case being solved.
