In a federal courtroom just blocks from where two viable pipe bombs were discovered five years ago, the man accused of planting them formally denied the charges on Friday. Brian J. Cole Jr., the 30-year-old Virginia man arrested in December after a five-year manhunt, pleaded not guilty to two counts of transporting and attempting to use explosives.
The plea sets up a complex legal battle that contradicts the Department of Justice’s narrative of a “slam dunk” confession. While prosecutors allege Cole admitted to the crime during interrogation – stating that “something just snapped” following the 2020 election – his defense team appears to be pivoting toward a two-pronged strategy: challenging the context of that confession and, remarkably, positioning him for a presidential pardon.
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Absolutely, they’ll spin any story to bash real Americans standing up for their rights. Keep an eye on how they don’t even mention all the things the Dem leaders get away with! It’s all about control and manipulation, typical leftist strategy.
Trump doesn't do anything by accident
I'm all for justice but hope this follows the Constitution – not politics.
Everybody knows that pipe bomber was a woman, not a man
He confessed
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The Alleged Confession: “Something Just Snapped”
According to the indictment and previous DOJ filings, the government’s case rests heavily on an interview conducted shortly after Cole’s arrest in Woodbridge, Virginia. Prosecutors say that after initially denying involvement, Cole broke down when confronted with surveillance footage and reminded that lying to federal agents is a crime.
Cole allegedly admitted to planting the devices outside the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters on the night of January 5, 2021. His stated motive was not strictly partisan, but anti-institutional.
“The defendant wanted to do something ‘to the parties’ because ‘they were in charge,’” prosecutors wrote. Cole reportedly told agents he was disillusioned by the election outcome and felt “someone needs to speak up.”
Perhaps most chilling was his alleged indifference to the outcome. Court documents state Cole admitted setting the timers for 60 minutes, hoping “there would be news about it,” though he later claimed he was “relieved” when they failed to detonate.
The Evidence Trail
Beyond the confession, the government has assembled a digital and physical dragnet. The indictment cites:
- Surveillance Footage: Grainy video of a figure in a grey hoodie, which the FBI claims matches Cole’s physical profile and gait.
- Digital Exhaust: Cell phone records placing Cole’s device near both headquarters during the time the bombs were planted.
- Physical Evidence: A search of Cole’s home allegedly recovered bomb-making materials, and credit card records show purchases of components consistent with the failed devices.
The “Pardon” Defense
Despite this mountain of evidence, Cole’s not-guilty plea may be a strategic delay. His defense attorney, Mario Williams, has signaled a bold legal theory: that Cole’s actions are covered by President Trump’s broad pardons for January 6th defendants.
In interviews, Williams has argued that because the bombs were planted on January 5th in relation to the certification of the election on January 6th, they fall under the umbrella of “offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol.”
This argument attempts to blur the line between the riot at the Capitol and the attempted bombing of political offices blocks away.
A “Priority” for the New Administration
The arrest of Cole has become a political trophy for the new Trump Department of Justice. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI officials have publicly taken credit for solving a case that “vexed” the previous administration for years.
“Today’s arrest happened because the Trump administration has made this case a priority,” Bondi said at the time of his arrest. “The total lack of movement on this case… undermined the public trust.”
By pleading not guilty, Cole forces the administration into an awkward position: prosecuting a man who claims to be a supporter of the President, while the President’s own Justice Department labels him a domestic terrorist who targeted the GOP’s own headquarters. Cole faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, unless the President intervenes with the very pardon his lawyer is hinting at.
Fake news pushing lies again! Dems will do anything to smear patriots.