Washington Pipe Bomb Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

In a federal court appearance on Wednesday, Brian Cole Jr., the Washington, D.C. pipe bomb suspect, appeared quite composed as he entered a not guilty plea to new terrorism charges.

The 30-year-old, dressed in tan prison garb and wearing glasses, faced a new indictment that included two counts of attempted bombing, along with one count each of using a weapon of mass destruction and committing acts of terrorism while armed.

When asked for his defense, Cole simply stated, “Not guilty.”

According to prosecutors, Cole, a resident of Woodbridge, Virginia, allegedly placed two homemade explosive devices in backpacks outside the Democratic-Republican National Committee headquarters right before the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but the explosives did not detonate.

The indictment claims that Cole aimed to “influence policy” and to “intimidate and coerce a significant portion of the civilian population” through his plot.

Five years after the incident, federal authorities arrested Cole at his parents’ house. He was initially charged with transporting explosives across state lines with the intent to cause murder, injury, or damage, alongside charges relating to malicious destruction with explosives.

Currently awaiting trial, Cole faces the possibility of life in prison if he’s convicted of the most serious charges against him.

During an interrogation, prosecutors say Cole admitted to the crime, citing that he felt “perplexed” by conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 presidential election and explained that he “lost his temper” due to what he perceived as worsening conditions.

His lawyers have mentioned that Cole is autistic, has obsessive-compulsive disorder, and has no prior criminal record.

Last month, Cole’s defense team filed motions to have his case dismissed, arguing he should qualify for a pardon from former President Trump related to the January 6 events, though this request remains unresolved.