The FBI, under President Joe Biden’s administration, has been criticized for what FBI Director Kash Patel described as “total incompetence or complete willful negligence” regarding the D.C. pipe bombing case, which remained unresolved for nearly five years until the suspect was arrested on Thursday morning.
Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old from Woodbridge, Virginia, is set to appear in D.C. federal court on Friday for his initial arraignment. He’s facing charges related to the planting of a pipe bomb outside the Democratic-Republican National Committee on January 5, 2021, just hours before the Capitol riot incited by supporters of President Trump.
Patel, speaking on “Fox News Nightly” Thursday evening, criticized the previous administration for allegedly suppressing evidence over the years. “No new evidence has surfaced for five years,” he noted.
Using bank and cell phone records, investigators were able to connect Cole to the bombing incident in the Capitol Hill area of D.C. The investigation had actually commenced in 2019.
“We examined three million pieces of evidence,” Patel detailed to host Trace Gallagher. “We revisited cell phone tower data and scrutinized information provided by service providers through search warrants. Questions arose, like, ‘Why weren’t all the phone numbers cleared?’ and ‘Why was there no correlation?'”
He went on to assert, “This situation signifies either total incompetence or deliberate negligence, neither of which is acceptable for the FBI. Over the past eight months, we’ve worked to improve operations, not just in this case but broadly, enabling us to streamline the investigation.”
Former Fox News host Dan Bongino emphasized the importance of re-evaluating the evidence. He stated, “We’ve brought in experts to critically analyze all the data.” He also expressed relief that progress has finally been made in the case.
If Cole is convicted of the charges against him, he faces a potential prison sentence of 15 to 30 years, with further charges likely.
