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Man accused of planting homemade bombs Five years ago, outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican parties, he pleaded not guilty during a court appearance Friday.
Brian J. Cole, Jr. was arrested by the FBI at his home in Virginia in early December, and faces two counts of transporting and attempting to use explosives.
The suspect was indicted on federal charges this week, FOX 5 reported.
He allegedly admitted to planting the bombswhich failed to explode, in downtown Washington, D.C., on the eve of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Surveillance footage released by the FBI shows the alleged D.C. pipe bomber walking near the DNC on January 5, 2021, alongside a photo of accused suspect Brian Cole Jr., who was taken into custody pending trial. (Ministry of Justice)
Although he initially denied his involvement to investigators, he eventually admitted to planting the bombs when he was reminded that lying was an additional crime after he was shown purported surveillance video of him at the scene, according to the Justice Department.
“According to the defendant, he wasn’t really thinking about how people would react when the bombs went off, although he hoped there would be news about it,” court documents state, adding that he said he was “relieved” when he learned they hadn’t gone off.
Sketch of Brian Cole Jr.’s first appearance in federal court in Washington, DC, on December 5. Cole is the prime suspect in the Washington DC pipe bombing. (Dana Verkouteren)
Regarding his motivations, Cole said that “something broke” after “watching everything, everything got worse” after the Election 2020and he wanted to do something, “to the parties” because “they were in charge”.
DC PIPE BOMB SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS BRIAN COLE JR
The suspect is seen outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters moments before planting one of two pipe bombs discovered near the party’s offices in Washington, DC. (FBI)
“Ultimately, it was luck, not lack of effort, that the defendant failed to detonate one or both of his devices and that no one was killed or maimed as a result of his actions,” court documents state. “Indeed, the defendant admitted to detonating both devices 60 minutes after placing them. His failure to achieve his objectives does not mitigate the profoundly dangerous nature of his crimes.”
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Cole also continued to purchase materials to make bombs after the failed Jan. 5 attack, prosecutors said.
He faces 10 years in prison on one count and 20 years in prison if convicted on the second count.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
