Pipe bomb allegations surrounding the Jan. 5, 2021, security breach in Washington, D.C., took a new turn after federal prosecutors disclosed statements from the suspect explaining his motive. Pipe bombs were planted outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters, according to court filings released Sunday.
Prosecutors said Brian J. Cole Jr. told investigators he felt compelled to “speak up” for Americans who believed the 2020 presidential election was stolen. The details appeared in a Justice Department memo arguing that Cole should remain detained while the case proceeds. Cole was arrested earlier this month in Woodbridge, Virginia, marking the first major break after years of stalled investigation.
According to prosecutors, Cole initially denied involvement but later admitted to placing the devices. Investigators recovered bomb-making materials from his home that they say link him to the crime. Undetonated homemade bombs were discovered on Jan. 6, although Cole denied any connection to the events at the Capitol that day.
In the memo, prosecutors quoted Cole describing his mindset. “In the defendant’s view, if people ‘feel that, you know, something as important as voting in the federal election is being tampered with… then, like, someone needs to speak up, right?’” prosecutors wrote. They said Cole believed “someone up top” should act “just to at the very least calm things down.”
Prosecutors said Cole expressed frustration with both political parties, telling investigators, “I really don’t like either party at this point.” The memo stated that “the defendant wanted to do something ‘to the parties’ because ‘they were in charge.’”
Cole also told investigators his interest in historical conflicts in Northern Ireland influenced his choice of pipe bombs. His attorneys are expected to challenge his detention at a hearing Tuesday in federal court in Washington.
