Brian J. Cole, Jr., a 30-year-old resident of Woodbridge, Virginia, was arrested and charged for transporting and planting two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) outside the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters in Washington, D.C. on January 5, 2021. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Cole faces charges including transporting an explosive device across state lines with intent to harm or intimidate individuals or destroy property, as well as attempted malicious destruction using fire and explosives.
The announcement was made alongside U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
“The well-being of our society rests on our ability as law enforcement to safeguard our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “When bad actors intervene to disrupt and threat that peace – to destroy the very fabric of our country – we must, we do, and we will track them down and hold them to account for their crimes to the full extent of the law. FBI and members of my office worked around the clock to methodically piece together the clues that ultimately identified the defendant.”
Attorney General Bondi stated: “Today’s arrest was the result of good, diligent police work and collaboration on a case that languished for four years under the prior administration. The American people are safer thanks to this morning’s successful operation.”
FBI Director Patel noted: “The investigation into the pipe bombs in Washington, D.C. has been a high priority since Deputy Director Bongino and I assumed our roles nine months ago. Since that time, our FBI teams have gone back over every fact and every data point looking for new leads – and today’s arrest is the result of that outstanding work... Although almost five years have passed, this shows the FBI will never rest in bringing justice to those who endanger American lives and our communities. I would like to thank our Washington Field Office, FBI personnel across the country, and our partners for their hard work and dedication which led to this arrest.”
FBI Deputy Director Bongino added: “This historic arrest shows this FBI delivers on its promises to protect the American people... The pipe bombs could have caused devastating loss of life and injuries, as well as property damage. I want to thank the FBI employees who worked on this over the years, our law enforcement partners who assisted in the investigation, and the American people for the tips they shared with us.”
FBI Assistant Director Cox said: "Today's actions underscore the long memory and reach of the FBI... The FBI and our partners do not forget. We do not give up. We do not relent. For nearly five years, the investigative team combed through a massive amount of data and leads to identify the suspect arrested today."
According to court documents unsealed today, Cole bought multiple components used in making IEDs from various retailers in northern Virginia during 2019-2020.
On January 6th at approximately 1 p.m., authorities received reports about suspected IEDs near both party headquarters; one at RNC headquarters followed shortly by another near DNC headquarters just blocks away.
Both devices were rendered safe by specialists from United States Capitol Police's Hazardous Devices Section. An assessment determined each contained a main charge with fuzing systems inside containers.
Surveillance footage showed an individual placing both devices on January 5th while wearing distinctive clothing items including dark pants, a grey hooded sweatshirt, gloves, Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes, eyeglasses adjustments visible on video footage—and carrying a backpack while concealing their face with a mask.
Cole’s Nissan Sentra was recorded passing through a License Plate Reader less than half a mile from where video first captured someone matching his description near North Carolina & New Jersey Avenues SE around 7:10 p.m., January 5th.
Cell phone records placed Cole's device in proximity to both committee headquarters between 7:39 p.m.–8:24 p.m., consistent with paths mapped from surveillance videos analyzed by investigators.
The ongoing investigation involves cooperation among several agencies including the FBI Washington Field Office; U.S Capitol Police; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives; Metropolitan Police Department; and is being prosecuted by the U.S Attorney’s Office for District of Columbia.
