Brian Cole Jr. tells FBI he believed 2020 election was stolen, suspected in Jan. 6 pipe bomb plot

The FBI announced on Thursday that Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old Virginia resident, has been taken into custody for allegedly placing pipe bombs outside the headquarters of both the Republican and Democratic national committees on the night before the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The arrest concludes an extensive investigation that lasted nearly five years and generated numerous conspiracy theories.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated at a press conference, We have solved this case, adding that the public will gain further details when Cole faces trial. Patel emphasized that authorities are committed to ensuring full accountability.

Cole is scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Friday. Attorney General Pam Bondi clarified that the arrest was not prompted by new tips or witnesses, but by a renewed examination of existing evidence, which Patel described as more than three million lines of data. Neither official provided additional information regarding the motives behind the plot.

Reports indicate that Cole is cooperating with investigators and has told the FBI that he believed conspiracy theories suggesting the 2020 election was fraudulent.

Details of the Pipe Bomb Incident

On the evening of January 5, 2021, homemade explosive devices capable of causing serious injury or death were positioned outside the DNC and RNC headquarters. They remained undiscovered for about 16 hours, just minutes before supporters of then-President Trump began attempting to breach the Capitol to challenge the certification of Joe Biden's election victory.

During that morning, then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris passed within 20 feet of the DNC device. She spent nearly two hours at the building before the bomb was found, prompting evacuation and a major law enforcement response.

Surveillance footage captured a suspect approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, wearing a gray hoodie, a mask, and Nike Air Max Speed Turf sneakers with a yellow logo. Despite a $500,000 FBI reward and subpoenas issued to 18 sneaker vendors, over 1,000 interviews, 39,000 video files, and 600 public tips failed to reveal the suspects identity, leading to widespread speculation and conspiracy theories about political motivations.

Authorities intensified the investigation earlier this year, ranking it as one of the bureaus top priorities. The New York Times reported that Coles arrest resulted from a meticulous reexamination of existing evidence rather than new information.

Commenting on the investigation, Dan Bongino said, No one could place explosive devices in our capital and get away with it. We were determined to track this person down completely.

Questions remain about whether Coles legal team might invoke former President Trumps clemency for nearly 1,600 individuals connected to the January 6 events as part of their defense strategy.

Author: Caleb Jennings