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yesterday

Defense Seeks Evidence of Alleged Confession as DOJ Moves to Detain DNC–RNC Pipe‑Bomb Suspect

Prosecutors say Brian J. Cole Jr. admitted planting the Jan. 5, 2021 devices, with a detention hearing now set in Washington.

This courtroom sketch depicts Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Va., the man accused of planting a pair of pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties on Jan. 5, 2021, in Washington, being sworn in, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 before U.S. Magistrate Moxila Upadhyaya, at Federal Court in Washington, as U.S. Attorney Charles Jones, seated left, and Defense Attorney John Shoreman, seated center, look on. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)
Attorney General Pam Bondi, third from right, Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith, left, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, ATF Special Agent in Charge of Washington Anthony Spotswood, FBI Director Kash Patel, and FBI deputy director Dan Bongino speak during a news conference at the Department of Justice, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A surveillance photo released by the FBI shows a person of interest in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021.
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Overview

  • Defense attorneys filed a request for prosecutors to produce proof of the alleged confession, including any recordings, citing Brady disclosure obligations.
  • Federal filings seeking pretrial detention describe a post‑arrest interview in which Cole allegedly confessed, said he wanted to "speak up" for those claiming the 2020 election was stolen, and set 60‑minute timers on both devices.
  • Investigators say evidence links Cole to the bombs, including purchase records for components in 2019–2020, materials recovered from his home and car, cell‑site data near the DNC and RNC, and license‑plate and surveillance matches.
  • The FBI has characterized the devices as viable and potentially lethal, and prosecutors argue Cole poses an "intolerable risk" to public safety.
  • Prosecutors say Cole denied targeting Congress or the Jan. 6 certification, cited interest in the Troubles as inspiration, discarded materials after seeing news coverage, and repeatedly wiped his phone’s data.