DOJ confirms identity of pipe bomb suspect

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
The Center Square

The U.S. Department of Justice offered few details in the ongoing investigation that led to the arrest of a suspect related to pipe bombs planted outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2021.

The suspect has been identified as Brian Cole, Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Va. Cole was taken into custody Thursday morning after a nearly five-year investigation.

The suspect was arrested for “transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce, as well as the attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said during a U.S. Department of Justice news conference Thursday afternoon.

DOJ officials emphasized that multiple search warrants have been issued in the case, and the investigation is ongoing. When asked, officials wouldn’t comment on a possible motive. DOJ officials offered little to no new information on the case. They did indicate more charges could be forthcoming and would not say if terrorism charges could be included.

Just the News, citing a newly filed criminal complaint, reported that the FBI examined the suspect’s credit card purchases to find the components allegedly used to manufacture the two bombs.

Despite the arrest, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said investigators hadn’t discovered any new information that led to Cole’s arrest, but instead combed through existing data, tips and evidence leading to the latest development.

The undetonated pipe bombs were planted on the eve of the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots, according to video footage. The RNC and DNC headquarters, located in Southwest D.C. are within blocks of each other, just south of the U.S. Capitol.

Investigators indicated the explosive devices were homemade, which included black powder and a kitchen timer. Surveillance footage from the scenes appeared to show an individual wearing sweats, Nike shoes, a hoodie, and a mask. In addition, the footage appeared to show the explosives were placed between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2021.

This year, the FBI offered a $500,000 reward for fresh information leading to the arrest of the person suspected of planting the bombs.

During the news conference, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino was credited for spearheading the investigation by FBI Director Kash Patel.

“You’re not going to walk into our capital city, put down two explosive devices and walk off in the sunset. Not going to happen,” Bongino said. “We were going to track this person to the end of the earth. We didn’t have to track him to the end of the earth. It wound up in Woodbridge, Virginia.”

Bongino and Patel called the investigation a “team effort.”

Darren Cox, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said investigators evaluated three million lines of data during the investigation. Bongino told reporters that forensic data eventually led to the breakthrough.