Brian J. Cole, Jr., a 30-year-old resident of Woodbridge, Virginia, has been charged in a federal indictment for allegedly planting two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on January 5, 2021, at the headquarters of both the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee in Washington D.C. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The indictment replaces an earlier one returned by a D.C. Superior Court grand jury during the holidays and charges Cole with interstate transportation of explosives and malicious attempt to use explosives.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office, and Interim Chief Jeffrey Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined Pirro in making the announcement.
“Given that Cole crossed state lines and targeted the political leadership of both parties for which there is an inherent crime of federal jurisdiction, handling this in federal court is most proper,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The FBI and my office worked around the clock to ensure that this defendant is charged with the right crimes for his dangerous acts.”
On January 6, 2021, law enforcement found IEDs near both party headquarters close to the U.S. Capitol as Congress convened to certify the results of the 2020 election. The devices did not detonate; Capitol Police rendered them safe without incident.
A complaint filed on December 3, 2025 stated that Cole purchased components used to make IEDs at several northern Virginia retailers during 2019 and 2020.
At about 1 p.m. on January 6, multiple law enforcement agencies received reports about a suspected IED near RNC headquarters; fifteen minutes later another report came from near DNC headquarters just blocks away.
Video surveillance identified one individual placing both devices on January 5 while wearing dark clothing including gloves and a facemask and carrying a backpack.
Cole’s Nissan Sentra was seen passing a License Plate Reader less than half a mile from where surveillance first observed someone near North Carolina and New Jersey Avenues SE around 7:10 p.m. Cell phone records show that Cole’s phone communicated with cell towers in those areas between approximately 7:39 p.m. and 8:24 p.m., matching locations tracked by investigators through video analysis.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including the FBI Washington Field Office, U.S. Capitol Police, ATF Washington Field Office, Metropolitan Police Department, and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
