Suspect in Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Incident Arrested

On Thursday, CNN anchor Jake Tapper mistakenly identified the race of the suspect involved in the January 6 pipe bomb incident, referring to the newly indicted individual as white.

The arrest of Brian Cole from Virginia took place on Thursday. He’s facing charges related to transporting and attempting to detonate pipe bombs near the national headquarters of both the Republican and Democratic parties in Washington, D.C. This marks the conclusion of nearly five years of federal investigation. During a live broadcast of “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” Tapper summarized the Justice Department’s case against Cole, describing him as a white man.

“Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old white man from the Washington, D.C., suburbs, is charged with transportation of explosives and malicious destruction in interstate commerce,” Tapper stated.

According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, after reviewing public records, investigators executed a search warrant early Thursday at a home in Woodbridge associated with Cole. Bondi noted that the Trump administration had already identified the suspect, even without any new evidence.

Bondi mentioned, “This unsolved case continued for four years. [Director Kash Patel] and [Co-Deputy Director Dan Bongino] came to the FBI.” She also indicated that more charges might be forthcoming as the investigation progresses. The FBI dedicated years to solving the pipe bomb case, releasing surveillance footage and noting a substantial damage estimate. Authorities interviewed over 1,000 individuals and sifted through numerous tips.

Earlier that day, law enforcement found explosives linked to rioters, including a person later identified as an FBI informant, who participated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol to challenge the certification of former President Joe Biden’s election win.