After a nearly five-year investigation, federal authorities have apprehended Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old from Virginia, in connection with the placement of two pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021. The arrest, executed without incident at his family home in Woodbridge, Virginia, marks a significant breakthrough in one of the most persistent investigations following the Capitol riot.
Cole faces federal charges including the use of an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction of property with explosives. Although the devices did not detonate, their discovery prompted the evacuation of then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris from the DNC headquarters and occurred on the eve of the congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election.
According to court documents and media reports, the investigation was a mammoth undertaking. The FBI pursued over 6,000 leads, conducted extensive interviews, and sifted through vast amounts of digital and physical evidence. Key evidence included mobile phone data placing Cole near the bomb sites between 7:39 PM and 8:24 PM on January 5th, and a license plate reader capturing his 2017 Nissan Sentra near the area. Investigators also traced the specific type of end caps used in the bombs, of which 233,000 had been sold, and identified the suspect’s footwear as Nike Air Max Speed Turfs, necessitating a review of thousands of pairs sold through numerous retailers.
Neighbors and family members described Cole as a ‘quiet’ and ‘naive’ individual who frequently walked a Chihuahua in his suburban neighborhood. His grandmother, Loretta Cole, told media he was ‘almost autistic-like’ and ‘would not hurt a fly.’ However, CNN reported that during FBI interviews, Cole expressed the belief that the 2020 election was ‘rigged,’ echoing the false claims perpetuated by former President Donald Trump.
Authorities have not yet formally detailed a motive for the alleged actions. Cole is scheduled for a court appearance where he will be formally read the charges and enter a plea.