Overview
- Court filings unsealed Dec. 28 describe a multi-hour interview in which Cole admitted placing viable devices outside the DNC and RNC and said he targeted the parties because they were 'in charge.'
- Prosecutors say Cole denied aiming at Congress or the Jan. 6 certification and said 'something just snapped' as he sought to 'speak up' for people who believed the 2020 election was stolen.
- Cole allegedly told agents he set 60-minute timers intending detonation, later saying he was 'pretty relieved' the bombs did not explode and that he placed them at night to avoid killing people.
- The memo outlines corroborating evidence, including 2019–2020 purchases matching bomb components, cell-site and surveillance links, a license-plate reader hit near the sites, and 943 phone wipe events.
- Cole was arrested Dec. 4 in Woodbridge, Virginia, on federal explosives charges, the devices were discovered on Jan. 6 without injuries, and a detention hearing is set for Dec. 30 in Washington federal court.