DC Pipe Bomb Defendant to Be Jailed Until Trial
This courtroom sketch depicts Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Va., who's charged with planting a pair of pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties on Jan. 5, 2021, in Washington, being sworn in on Dec. 5 at Federal Court in Washington. US Attorney Charles... (Dana Verkouteren via AP)
A federal magistrate judge on Friday denied pretrial release for a man accused of placing two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ruled that Brian Cole Jr. must remain in custody while awaiting trial, agreeing with prosecutors that no set of release conditions could adequately protect the public. The decision was reported by the Associated Press.
Justice Department prosecutors say Cole admitted to planting the explosive devices outside both party headquarters just hours before a crowd of President Trump’s supporters breached the U.S. Capitol. According to court filings, Cole said he hoped the bombs would explode and generate media attention.
In his ruling, Judge Sharbaugh wrote that if the plan had succeeded, the explosions could have caused widespread fear on the eve of a major congressional proceeding, resulted in significant property damage in downtown Washington, D.C., and seriously injured staff members or bystanders.
Following his arrest last month, Cole told investigators he believed someone needed to speak out for those who claimed the 2020 presidential election—won by Democrat Joe Biden—was stolen. Prosecutors say Cole targeted the two major political parties because he believed they were “in charge.”
Cole faces two federal charges. If convicted, he could receive up to 10 years in prison on one count and up to 20 years on a second count, which also carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.
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