The FBI apprehended a 30-year-old man from Virginia and officially accused him on Thursday of placing two pipe bombs in Washington on the eve of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, marking the culmination of a lengthy investigation that spawned various conspiracy theories.
Identified as Brian Cole Jr. from Woodbridge, Va., the suspect faces charges of deploying an explosive device and attempting to cause malicious destruction using explosive materials, as confirmed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and other federal authorities at a press conference in Washington. The officials refrained from disclosing the motive behind the alleged bomber’s actions near the Capitol buildings of both the Republican and Democratic Parties or revealing the breakthrough that led to the arrest almost five years later.
During the press conference, Bondi mentioned that the investigation remains ongoing, with search warrants currently being executed and the possibility of additional charges in the future. The arrest of Cole was made possible through a thorough examination of existing evidence by the investigators.
On the day when supporters of Trump breached Congress in an effort to obstruct the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential election victory in 2020, law enforcement successfully neutralized the bombs. The siege resulted in thousands of rioters invading the Capitol, assaulting around 140 officers, and causing over $2.8 million in damages.
Details regarding legal representation for Cole were not immediately available. Court documents indicate that he resides with his family in a single-family residence in Woodbridge, located approximately 32 kilometers outside of Washington, and is employed at a bail bondsman’s office in northern Virginia.
The arrest concluded a protracted investigation during which the FBI encountered challenges in identifying a suspect, prompting multiple appeals to the public for information. Surveillance footage released by the bureau depicted the would-be bomber sporting distinctive Nike Air Max Speed sneakers.
The attempted bombings have been a focal point for conspiracy theories within pro-Trump MAGA circles. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, a former conservative podcaster who transitioned to the bureau during the Trump administration, previously alleged baselessly on his podcast that the FBI possessed knowledge of the culprit’s identity but concealed it due to an alleged “inside job.”
The case resurfaced recently following a misidentification by a far-right media outlet that wrongly pegged a former Capitol Police officer as a suspect. According to an FBI affidavit detailing the evidence, Cole procured the bomb components in 2019 and 2020, including pipes, kitchen timers, and battery connectors.
At the press conference, FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that a fresh team of investigators and specialists was brought in to reevaluate all evidence and data comprehensively. In an effort to reinvigorate the investigation, the FBI released new surveillance footage in January before Trump assumed office, eliciting a surge of tips and offering a $500,000 US reward.
Upon his return to office in January, Trump granted pardons to nearly 1,500 individuals who faced criminal charges related to their involvement in the Capitol riot.
