Defense attorneys for Brian Cole, a 31-year-old man diagnosed with level-1 Autism Spectrum Disorder, argue in a recent court filing that FBI agents coerced him into confessing during a lengthy interrogation following his arrest. Cole, who was taken into custody on December 4, 2025, is accused of planting pipe bombs at the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee offices on January 5, 2021.
Initially charged with transporting explosives and attempting to use them maliciously, a new indictment added two felony counts concerning weapons of mass destruction and two felony counts related to terrorism. The FBI’s suspicion of Cole stems from his alleged purchases, such as battery connectors and timers, which the bureau claims were used to create the bombs. These purchases dated back months, and in some cases, years before the incident.
Defendant’s attorney John Shoreman described Cole as a mild-mannered man who lives a structured life with his mother. After his arrest, Cole pleaded not guilty. Shoreman has questioned the validity of the supposed confession made during the interrogation, stating that it’s something they will address more thoroughly later.
The defense’s motion filed on Tuesday aims to suppress Cole’s statements to the FBI, presenting the argument that they did not amount to a voluntary confession. The motion indicates that the interrogation process severely affected Cole’s mental state due to his autism, as he was subjected to coercive tactics that included threats and mischaracterizations of his innocence. According to the defense, transcripts of the interrogation reveal Cole expressing confusion and desperation multiple times, pleading for clarification.
During this interrogation, Cole reportedly showed visible signs of distress, such as gagging and shivering, which led one agent to cover him with a blanket. His repeated denials were followed by verbal and psychological threats from the agents. After a significant breakdown, he allegedly began to engage in stimming behavior, a common response among autistic individuals dealing with intense emotional stress.
At one point, when shown surveillance footage, Cole initially denied recognizing himself, but after the agents warned him that denial could constitute a crime, he ultimately identified himself in the video. The defense argues that this was not a genuine confession but rather a product of coercive pressure applied during the interrogation.
Richard Leo, a professor of law and psychology, reviewed the interrogation and noted that the techniques employed were known to increase the risk of eliciting false confessions. The defense has maintained that Cole’s statements to the FBI were coerced under highly stressful circumstances.
Cole’s attorneys did not respond to requests for comment, while a spokesperson for the Justice Department indicated that they would address the defense’s motion in an upcoming court filing. Meanwhile, U.S. Representative Thomas Massie has called for the resignation of FBI Director Kash Patel, condemning the treatment Cole received.
