A 30-year-old Virginia man has confessed to planting pipe bombs outside the headquarters of both major US political parties in Washington DC on the eve of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots, though he insists he never intended to kill anyone.
The Confession and Motive
Brian Cole Jr, a bail bondsman from Virginia, was taken into custody earlier this month, nearly five years after the homemade explosive devices were discovered outside the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee buildings. According to newly released federal court documents, Cole provided investigators with a detailed confession after initially denying involvement.
He reportedly told FBI agents that he planted the bombs because he felt 'someone needs to speak up' for those who believed the 2020 presidential election was compromised. Cole expressed frustration that individuals questioning the election results were being labelled as 'fascists' and 'Nazis'.
The court filings reveal Cole said he began following election fraud claims on YouTube and Reddit after the 2020 vote, feeling 'bewildered'. He allegedly stated, 'In his view, if people "feel that, you know, something as important as voting in the federal election is being tampered with... then, like, someone needs to speak up, right?"
From Denial to Admission
Prosecutors state that Cole only confessed after being shown still images from surveillance footage. The images allegedly depicted a person in a hooded sweatshirt carrying a backpack on the same route the bomber took on the night of January 5, 2021.
'The interviewing agents reminded the defendant that lying to them was an additional criminal offense and asked the defendant again whether he was the individual on the surveillance video,' prosecutors wrote. 'This time, the defendant paused for approximately 15 seconds, placed his head down on the table and answered "yes."'
Cole, described by neighbours as a recluse, claimed he has never been openly political and kept his beliefs from his family to avoid conflict. He told investigators he did not inform them he was attending the Stop the Steal rally in support of then-President Donald Trump.
Construction and Aftermath of the Bombs
According to his confession, Cole built the weapons using ingredients purchased from a Lowe's hardware store, mixing them in a Pyrex bowl. He learned the method from a video game that listed the components and supplemented his knowledge with science-related YouTube videos.
The devices were constructed from threaded galvanized pipes, kitchen timers and homemade black powder. Cole allegedly used a spoon or measuring cup to pour the powder into the pipes.
After the bombs were discovered the next day, sparking a major security alert amidst the chaos of the Capitol breach, Cole reportedly discarded all his bomb-making materials at a nearby dump. He told agents he was 'pretty relieved' the devices failed to explode, claiming he specifically planted them at night because he didn't want to see people killed.
Legal Proceedings and Broader Implications
Federal prosecutors are now arguing that Cole should be held without bail pending trial, stating his crimes were 'the product of weeks of premeditation and planning' and created profound danger. They emphasised that by targeting the two party headquarters, he risked the lives of pedestrians, office workers, law enforcement, first responders, and national political leaders.
'Ultimately, it was luck, not lack of effort, that the defendant failed to detonate one or both of his devices,' prosecutors concluded.
Cole's arrest marks the first major breakthrough in a five-year investigation that had baffled the FBI and fuelled conspiracy theories. It came after a bureau technician accessed previously corrupted cellphone data that implicated Cole. The FBI had offered a $500,000 reward for information leading to the suspect.
Defence lawyers, who claim Cole has severe autism, have not yet filed court papers regarding his pre-trial detention. The case continues to draw significant political commentary, with some former officials criticising the pace of the investigation under the Biden administration.
