FBI apprehends Brian Cole Jr. in Jan. 6 pipe bomb investigation, concluding 5-year search

The FBI announced the arrest of Virginia resident Brian Cole Jr. on Thursday for allegedly placing pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on the night before the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, bringing a nearly five-year investigation to a close. The case had challenged authorities and fueled multiple conspiracy theories over the years.

We have solved this case, FBI Director Kash Patel stated at a press briefing, adding that the public would learn more details once Cole faces trial. Full accountability will be ensured, he emphasized.

Authorities, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, offered no additional information about Coles motives or the ongoing investigation. Bondi noted that Coles arrest did not result from a new tip or witness, but from a thorough review of more than 3 million existing lines of data, according to Patel.

The improvised explosives, described by investigators as capable of causing serious injury or death, were placed outside the DNC and RNC offices on January 5 but were not discovered until roughly 16 hours later, just before supporters of then-President Trump began breaching barricades at the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election win.

Reports later revealed that then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris passed within 20 feet of the DNC device when her motorcade arrived, spending nearly two hours in the building before the bomb was discovered, prompting an evacuation and a major law enforcement response.

Earlier surveillance footage captured a suspect around 57 tall, wearing a gray hoodie, mask, and a pair of Nike Air Max Speed Turf sneakers with a yellow logo. Despite offering a $500,000 reward, reviewing over 39,000 video files, conducting more than 1,000 interviews, and investigating 600 public tips, the FBI had been unable to determine the suspects identity or even gender.

During the lengthy investigation, speculation about political motives and links to the January 6 riots grew, in the absence of concrete evidence. These bombs were placed intentionally. We were determined to find the person responsible, said Dan Bongino, now deputy FBI director.

After President Trumps return to office earlier this year, Bongino and FBI Director Patel revived the probe, prioritizing it as a top bureau objective. According to the New York Times, Coles arrest emerged not from new information, but from a deeper review of existing case files that revealed a crucial lead.

No one could plant explosives in our nations capital and escape justice, Bongino declared. We were committed to tracking this individual to the ends of the earth.

The arrest raises questions about whether Cole might attempt to claim protection under Trumps clemency for defendants linked to January 6 events, a decision that affected nearly 1,600 individuals.

Author: Ava Mitchell