Arrest Made in D.C. Pipe Bomb Case

On Thursday, CNN anchor Jake Tapper mistakenly identified the suspect in the Washington, D.C. pipe bomb incident as a “white man,” just before displaying a photo that revealed the individual was Black.

The suspect, Brian Cole Jr. from Woodbridge, Virginia, was taken into custody this week. This marked his second arrest in nearly five years. He is suspected of planting pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters the night prior to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

At the start of Thursday’s episode of “The Lead,” Tapper updated viewers: “After nearly five years of investigation, the FBI has finally announced that they have arrested the suspect who planted a pipe bomb near the Republican National Committee headquarters on January 6, 2021.” He continued, mentioning Cole’s age and indicating he was from the D.C. suburbs, while listing charges against him, which include transportation of explosives across state lines and malicious destruction by explosion.

Who is Brian Cole Jr.?

Shortly after Tapper’s commentary, CNN correspondent Brian Todd described Cole as a “reclusive” figure based on neighbor accounts. While Todd spoke with Tapper, CNN aired a photo of Cole, contradicting Tapper’s earlier description.

Interestingly, Tapper did not later correct his earlier statement during the broadcast, as noted by available records. CNN has not yet commented on the situation.

Details of the Charge

Cole faces serious federal charges, including transporting explosives and causing malicious destruction through fire or explosives. Additional charges may follow, according to authorities. This arrest appears to conclude a lengthy investigation into the pipe bombs.

Although the bombs placed outside the RNC and DNC did not explode, they were confirmed to be viable and posed a significant threat. Reports indicate that the suspect had concerns about the integrity of the 2020 election when speaking with law enforcement.