**Man Accused of Planting Pipe Bombs in Washington on Eve of Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Confesses to Investigators**
The man accused of placing two pipe bombs in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol has confessed to federal investigators. Brian J. Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, told authorities he believed someone needed to “speak up” for people who thought the 2020 presidential election was stolen, prosecutors revealed Sunday.
According to a Justice Department memo filed to argue that Cole should remain detained as the case proceeds, he said he wanted to target the country’s political parties because they were “in charge.”
### Why This Matters
The allegations provide the most detailed government account to date of Cole’s alleged motivations. They mark a significant breakthrough in a nearly five-year-old investigation into the homemade explosives.
The two bombs were placed outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican National Committees. Although neither device detonated, they were discovered on January 6—the same afternoon that rioters supporting then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an effort to halt the certification of his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
### What We Know So Far
Cole was arrested on December 4 at his home in Woodbridge, Virginia. He faces federal charges including transportation of an explosive device across state lines with the intent to kill, injure, or intimidate, as well as attempted malicious destruction by means of fire and explosive materials.
Federal investigators had offered a $500,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
The Justice Department memo states that Cole initially denied involvement but later confessed to placing the bombs. He admitted feeling disenchanted by the election results and expressed sympathy for then-President Trump and some allies’ claims that the election was stolen.
Cole told investigators, “If people feel that, you know, something as important as voting in the federal election is being tampered with, then someone needs to speak up, right? Someone up top. You know, just to, just to at the very least calm things down.”
He described that “something just snapped” after “watching everything, just everything getting worse,” and he wanted to do something “to the parties” because “they were in charge,” according to the memo.
When asked why he placed the explosives at both the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters, Cole responded: “I really don’t like either party at this point.”
### Evidence Against Cole
The memo highlights several pieces of evidence linking Cole to the crime:
– Bomb-making equipment was found at his home following his arrest.
– He purchased multiple components for the improvised explosive devices from retailers in northern Virginia in 2019 and 2020.
– Cellphone records placed his device near the RNC and DNC headquarters on January 5, 2021, between 7:39 p.m. and 8:24 p.m.
Despite these findings, Cole denied any connection between his actions and the events at Congress on January 6.
### Responses From Officials and Family
Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the arrest during a December 4 press conference, stating: “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 Kash Patel added: “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.”
However, Cole’s grandmother, Loretta Cole, told the New York Post: “He’s very naïve. He would not hurt a fly. He’s just not that kind of person. I don’t believe this at all. He’s not a terrorist.”
### What Comes Next?
Cole’s lawyers will have an opportunity to present their position on his detention ahead of a court hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Washington’s federal court.
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*Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.*
https://www.newsweek.com/dc-pipe-bomb-suspect-said-someone-needed-to-speak-up-11277656
