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New Software That Decoded Old Cell Data Led FBI to Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Suspect

Officials credit a reanalysis of years-old carrier records using a tool developed in recent months.

Overview

  • Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, has been charged with planting devices outside the RNC and DNC in January 2021.
  • A tech-savvy officer built software that unlocked T-Mobile data first obtained in 2021, helping link a phone’s movements to surveillance footage, according to new reporting.
  • Investigators cite decoded cell-site trails, CCTV matches, and bank and credit-card records showing purchases of bomb components, including items from Home Depot.
  • Justice Department and FBI leaders say the arrest followed a fresh review of existing evidence rather than a new public tip.
  • Rep. Thomas Massie promoted an unverified whistleblower claim questioning Cole’s capacity to act alone, a contention not corroborated in court filings described in the coverage.