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Authorities say a Virginia bomb suspect was driven by outrage at both Republicans and Democrats.
WASHINGTON — A Woodbridge man suspected of leaving pipe bombs at the DNC and RNC headquarters in DC the night before the January 6 Capitol Riot told investigators he was motivated by outrage at both parties, according to court documents.
The investigation began after the undetonated explosives were found outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters.
The discovery contributed to an already feverish political environment in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated incumbent Donald Trump.
According to a document requesting denial of pretrial release for Brian Cole Jr., while he was maintaining that he hadn’t planted the devices, he told them he’d gone to D.C. to protest what many Trump supporters believed was the wrongful election of Biden.
However, after he admitted that he was the figure recorded on surveillance video throughout the District, Cole denied that his actions were not directed toward Congress, nor were they related to the January 6 planned rally that erupted into the Capitol Riot.
Documents say that Cole told the federal agents “something just snapped” after “watching everything get worse and worse.”
Cole told the agents he wanted to do something to both Democrats and Republicans because “they were in charge.”
“I really don’t like either party at this point,” Cole said.
He also told investigators the idea for the pipe bombs came from his enthusiasm for history — specifically his interest in the Troubles in Ireland.
Prior to the confession, Cole indicated that people who believed the election had been stolen should not be ignored.
According to the court document:
In the defendant’s view, if people “feel that, you know, something as important as voting in the federal election is being tampered with, is being, you know, being – you know, relegated null and void, then, like, someone needs to speak up, right? Someone up top. You know, just to, just to at the very least calm things down.” The defendant felt that “the people up top,” including “people on both sides, public figures,” should not “ignore[e] people’s grievances” or call them “conspiracy theorists,” “bad people,” “Nazis,” or “fascists.” Instead, “if people feel that their votes are like just being thrown away, then . . . at the very least someone should address it.”
The FBI believes Cole is the target a five-year search the suspect.
Federal officials said that it was not new evidence or a witness that led to Cole’s arrest, but ‘due diligence’ under the direction of the Trump administration. The FBI says they brought in an entire new team of experts to sift through evidence that, according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, “was collecting dust” under the Biden administration.
During the interrogation, Cole told the agents that he was “pretty relieved” when he learned neither bomb detonated, saying he left them during the night so that no one would be harmed.
Investigators used information from local cell towers, as well store transactions to track down Cole.
They say they found physical evidence — including materials used to manufacture pipe bombs — in Cole’s home, as well as his vehicle.
In examining his smartphone, they say the device registered 943 attempts to wipe information.
Prosecutors are arguing that Cole be denied pretrial release.
Cole is charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce with the intent to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property. He is also charged with attempted malicious destruction by means of fire and explosive materials.
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