Federal prosecutors have disclosed that Brian Cole, a 30-year-old Virginia resident accused of planting pipe bombs in Washington D.C., has provided a full confession to FBI investigators following his arrest earlier this month. According to court documents unsealed on Sunday, Cole admitted to placing explosive devices outside both Democratic and Republican national committee headquarters on January 5, 2021—the eve of the U.S. Capitol insurrection.
Cole detailed to investigators that ‘something just snapped’ regarding his frustration with the American political system, prompting him to take action against both major parties due to their perceived influence in national politics. ‘I really don’t like either party at this point,’ Cole stated during his interrogation, as cited in the prosecution’s filing.
The suspect, who faces two explosives-related charges, initially denied involvement when questioned by authorities. He claimed his presence in Washington was solely to participate in protests supporting former President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Cole expressed his belief that the election had been ‘tampered with,’ telling FBI agents that powerful figures needed to speak out about electoral integrity issues.
Prosecutors revealed these new investigative details while arguing for Cole’s pretrial detention, with a hearing scheduled in Washington federal court. The case had remained unsolved for nearly five years until FBI leadership ordered a comprehensive review of evidence, which had previously fueled various right-wing conspiracy theories connected to the Capitol riot.
The unexploded pipe bombs were discovered approximately at 1:00 PM on January 6, 2021, coinciding with the Capitol breach and diverting critical law enforcement resources during the emergency. Cole specifically denied any connection between his bomb placement and the subsequent electoral certification process in Congress.