A federal grand jury has indicted Brian Cole Jr., the suspect in the D.C. pipe bomb case, on various charges. This indictment comes close to five years after he was accused of placing an explosive device just before the January 6 Capitol riot.
Cole faces federal charges for allegedly planting two pipe bombs near the Republican National Committee headquarters on the evening of January 5, 2021. The U.S. Department of Justice announced this indictment, which includes charges of interstate transportation of explosives and attempted malicious use of explosives.
“Since Mr. Cole crossed state lines and aimed at political leaders from both parties, it’s more appropriate for this case to be handled in federal court, as it deals with offenses unique to federal jurisdiction,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated on Tuesday.
She added, “The FBI and my office have been working tirelessly to make sure this defendant faced the correct charges for his reckless actions.”
The charges in this federal indictment are the same as what was mentioned in an earlier indictment filed last month.
On January 6, 2021, law enforcement found an improvised explosive device (IED) near both the DNC and RNC headquarters, coinciding with a riot where supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election.
Surveillance footage showed a person believed to be Cole placing the explosives close to the RNC and DNC locations.
Fortunately, neither device detonated, and Capitol Police successfully performed “render-safe procedures” on the bombs, according to prosecutors.
An earlier memo from the Department of Justice suggested that Cole had confessed to his involvement in the bomb plan. He indicated that following his arrest in early December, he felt something “snap” within him before he planted the device.
He expressed a desire to represent those who believe the 2020 election was stolen and described political parties as “culprits.”
Cole was apprehended at his home in Woodbridge, Virginia, on December 4, 2025, following a comprehensive investigation involving various government agencies.
Prosecutors allege that he gathered multiple components resembling those used for the IEDs from retail stores in Northern Virginia between 2019 and 2020.
Surveillance video also depicted someone matching Cole’s appearance, dressed in dark pants, a gray hooded sweatshirt, gloves, and a face mask while handling the device.
According to records, Cole’s Nissan Sentra was located near the incident site, and his cell phone data indicated he was present in the area from 7:39 p.m. to 8:24 p.m. that evening.
In a filing from his attorney, it was disclosed that Cole is on the autism spectrum and has obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A federal judge decided on Friday that Cole should remain in custody until his trial, citing concerns that he may present a danger to the community.
