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DC pipe bomb suspect Brian Cole Jr. was hit with a federal indictment.
Summary
Brian Cole Jr. was federally indicted on charges tied to explosive devices placed near the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on Jan. 5, 2021; he was arrested in December 2025 and is being held pending trial.
Content
Brian Cole Jr. was federally indicted on Tuesday for allegedly placing explosive devices near the headquarters of both major political parties on the evening of Jan. 5, 2021. The Department of Justice charged him with interstate transportation of explosives and malicious attempt to use explosives. Authorities say he was arrested at his home on Dec. 4, 2025, after a multi-agency investigation. A federal magistrate judge ordered him detained pending trial.
Key facts:
- The indictment charges interstate transportation of explosives and malicious attempt to use explosives in connection with devices found near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters around Jan. 6, 2021.
- Prosecutors reported the devices were discovered and did not detonate; law enforcement carried out a render-safe procedure.
- Cole was arrested in Woodbridge, Virginia, on Dec. 4, 2025, and remains in custody after a magistrate judge cited signs he could pose a danger to the community.
- A Justice Department memo and court filings reported that Cole made statements after his arrest about placing the devices and referenced political grievances; his attorneys said he is on the autism spectrum and has obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Summary:
The federal indictment places charges arising from explosive devices left near party headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, unrest. Cole is in federal custody and will proceed through the court process; the next specific trial date or scheduling information is undetermined at this time.
