Overview
- Cole, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was taken into custody and charged with interstate transportation of an explosive device and attempted destruction using explosive materials, officials announced at a DOJ news conference.
- An FBI affidavit describes links built from surveillance footage, historical cell-site records and purchase histories showing he bought the key parts used in the devices.
- The FBI says both bombs were viable and were placed outside the DNC and RNC on Jan. 5, 2021, before being discovered roughly 15 hours later and rendered safe.
- Authorities have not established a motive or whether the bomb placements were directly connected to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
- Officials credited a renewed review of existing evidence after years of tips, video analysis, shoe-sale data and a $500,000 reward; court filings also allege Cole continued buying bomb components after Jan. 6.