Representative Thomas Massey from Kentucky has requested that the judge presiding over the January 6 pipe bomb case release the accused, Brian Cole Jr.
Massey believes the evidence against Cole is insufficient, noting that he has no prior criminal record and doesn’t pose a risk to public safety. He also criticized the U.S. Department of Justice for not adhering to legal protocols during the case.
“The judge should let autistic pipe bomb suspect Brian Cole Jr. go,” Massey stated. “There’s no credible motive, he’s not dangerous, the evidence is weak, and he’s willing to be monitored under house arrest. Moreover, despite his family’s support, the DOJ mishandled the legal process, which could cause him irreparable harm.”
Massey’s remarks responded to a tweet by Joe Hanneman from The Blaze. Cole’s attorney, Alex Little, filed an emergency motion on what marks the fifth anniversary of the January 6 events, arguing that Cole should be released due to the absence of a preliminary hearing or valid charges, claiming, “His ongoing detention is unlawful.”
On December 4, the Department of Justice announced that Cole was taken into custody on charges related to transporting explosives and attempting malicious destruction through explosives. He reportedly began acquiring bomb-making materials in 2019 and 2020. According to a report from late December, he made statements to investigators indicating a desire to punish both major political parties and claimed inspiration from the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Cole faces federal charges for allegedly planting two improvised explosive devices outside the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021, just before the Capitol riots, as stated by the Department of Justice.
Investigators later found the explosives and safely disarmed them without detonation. Prosecutors indicated that Cole confessed to his participation in the actions. They argued that given the serious nature of his alleged crimes, the substantial evidence against him, and the risk of him resorting to violence again, releasing him could endanger the community.
Prosecutors have stated, “The facts and circumstances in this case indicate no conditions would guarantee community safety if he were released pending trial.”
Law enforcement discovered the explosives amidst the chaos of the Capitol being stormed as rioters protested the certification of Joe Biden’s election results. Documents from the following years suggest that many FBI agents and informants were present near the Capitol at that time.
Massey previously questioned January 6 Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson about investigating the pipe bomb incident and removing Secret Service documents related to the events. He expressed concern over the committee’s focus on the explosives found at the DNC and RNC and criticized the lack of a thorough investigation. Massey also inquired about the location of former Vice President Kamala Harris during the discovery of the bomb.
He has accused the Secret Service of a delayed response and called out Alejandro Mayorkas, the former Secretary of Homeland Security, for purportedly erasing messages and destroying phones.
The Daily Caller has reached out to the Department of Justice for a response.
