Federal prosecutors revealed Friday that the Virginia man accused of planting two explosive devices outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee offices on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot sat for a four-hour interview with investigators the day before his first court appearance.
The arrest of 30-year-old Brian Cole Jr. has finally cracked one of the longest-running mysteries tied to Jan. 6, nearly five years after authorities first released surveillance footage of a masked individual placing the bombs.
Cole appeared in court Friday dressed in a tan jail-issued jumpsuit, sporting glasses and a mustache. He did not enter a plea. Prosecutor Charles Jones told the magistrate judge that the government would prioritize key evidence in discovery—including the lengthy custodial interview conducted Thursday.
Cole was read his rights and the charges: transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and attempted malicious destruction using explosive materials. Those charges carry potential sentences ranging from five to twenty years.
The recent disclosures come after NBC News reported that Cole told investigators he believed conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and is now cooperating with authorities.
The Associated Press later reported that Cole confessed during questioning to placing the pipe bombs. Prosecutors said they would promptly turn over detailed location data and purchasing records cited in the newly unsealed complaint.
Cole is the first publicly identified suspect in the bombing case, despite years of investigative pressure and public scrutiny. Initial video footage captured only limited details—a person roughly 5’7” wearing Nike Air Max sneakers and concealing their face. According to prosecutors, Cole is 5’6” and purchased several components between 2019 and 2020 consistent with those used to construct the devices found outside both party headquarters.
Trump administration officials at a Thursday press conference described an “aha moment” involving forensic evidence that ultimately connected the materials to Cole.
They emphasized that the breakthrough did not come from any last-minute tip but from revisiting evidence the FBI had in its possession for years—an implicit contrast to the lack of progress under earlier investigative leadership.
In court, Cole spoke softly as he answered the judge’s routine questions, confirming he completed high school and is represented by counsel. As he was led out, family members shouted words of support, telling him, “we love you” and “we’re here for you, baby.”
The bombs, planted on Jan. 5, 2021, sat unattended for more than 15 hours before police were dispatched. Though they were safely disabled, their discovery diverted law enforcement resources at a critical moment and intensified concerns about broader security failures surrounding Jan. 6.
The government is seeking Cole’s detention pending trial, with a hearing scheduled for December 15. Prosecutors say their focus now shifts to assembling the evidence for court—evidence they argue finally unravels the identity of the person responsible for a case that baffled federal authorities for nearly half a decade.
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