The man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the headquarters of both the Democratic and Republican national committees in Washington DC is due to appear before a federal magistrate judge for a detention hearing on Tuesday.
Brian Cole Jr, a 30-year-old from Woodbridge, Virginia, was arrested earlier this month. He has been charged with transporting explosives across state lines and attempting to use them to damage property, an offence carrying a potential 20-year prison term.
Defence Pushes for Release Ahead of Trial
Cole's legal team is arguing he should be released to await trial, stating he presents no danger and poses no flight risk. In a court filing, they proposed he be placed under home detention with GPS monitoring, living under the supervision of his grandmother.
The defence highlighted that Cole is on the autism spectrum, has been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, and has "zero criminal history". They also noted that no one was physically harmed as neither of the two devices planted on 5 January 2021 exploded.
Alleged Confession and Motive Revealed
However, federal prosecutors are strongly opposing his release, citing a detailed alleged confession. According to a justice department memo, after initially denying involvement, Cole admitted to being the person in surveillance footage when investigators warned him that lying was a crime.
The documents state he then "walked the interviewing agents in detail through his construction, transportation, and planting of the pipe bombs". When asked about his motive, Cole reportedly said "something just snapped" after watching events unfold, and that he targeted the two party headquarters because "I really don't like either party at this point".
He claimed the idea for pipe bombs came from an interest in history, specifically the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Cole also told agents he was "pretty relieved" the bombs did not detonate and that he planted them at night to avoid causing casualties.
During a search of his home, authorities allegedly found several bomb-making components, and FBI investigators obtained credit card statements showing purchases of materials used to construct the devices.
A Long-Standing Mystery Solved
Cole's arrest marks a major breakthrough in a case that had baffled law enforcement for over three years since the devices were discovered on the eve of the 6 January 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol. The search for the perpetrator had fuelled numerous conspiracy theories during the lengthy investigation.
Prosecutors have argued in their filings that "the defendant poses an intolerable risk of danger to the community if released". Meanwhile, Cole's lawyers have requested the judge order the release of any video or written statements from their client to his defence team.
The outcome of Tuesday's detention hearing will determine whether Brian Cole Jr remains in federal custody while his case proceeds to trial.
