Pipe bomb suspect told FBI he believed 2020 election conspiracy theories
The suspect has been cooperating with the FBI, according to sources, and is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday.
By Ryan J. Reilly/NBC News
Dec. 5, 2025, 8:14 AM CST / Updated Dec. 5, 2025, 12:35 PM CST
WASHINGTON — The man charged with planting two pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican party headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol told the FBI he believed conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Brian Cole Jr., 30, is cooperating with the FBI, NBC News has reported, citing a separate person familiar with the matter. Cole is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday. He was charged Thursday with leaving pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee in the hours before Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Cole was charged with transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials, according to charging documents. The FBI has not publicly cited a motive.
The suspect appeared in federal court for the first time since his arrest on Friday, wearing a prison jumpsuit.
Cole, who vowed to answer all questions asked honestly, told the judge he graduated from high school and hadn’t had any alcohol or drugs that would impact his ability to understand what was happening. He added that he did not need a court-appointed attorney and hired his own. His attorney, John Shoreman, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Cole spoke to the government for "more than four hours" yesterday, the government said, before the brief hearing concluded.
Cole was charged with transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials, according to charging documents. The FBI has not publicly cited a motive.
The pipe bombs he's accused of planting were found the day of the Jan. 6 riot, though investigators have said they were place near the RNC and DNC on Jan. 5.
By Ryan J. Reilly/NBC News
Dec. 5, 2025, 8:14 AM CST / Updated Dec. 5, 2025, 12:35 PM CST
WASHINGTON — The man charged with planting two pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican party headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol told the FBI he believed conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Brian Cole Jr., 30, is cooperating with the FBI, NBC News has reported, citing a separate person familiar with the matter. Cole is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday. He was charged Thursday with leaving pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee in the hours before Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Cole was charged with transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials, according to charging documents. The FBI has not publicly cited a motive.
The suspect appeared in federal court for the first time since his arrest on Friday, wearing a prison jumpsuit.
Cole, who vowed to answer all questions asked honestly, told the judge he graduated from high school and hadn’t had any alcohol or drugs that would impact his ability to understand what was happening. He added that he did not need a court-appointed attorney and hired his own. His attorney, John Shoreman, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Cole spoke to the government for "more than four hours" yesterday, the government said, before the brief hearing concluded.
Cole was charged with transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials, according to charging documents. The FBI has not publicly cited a motive.
The pipe bombs he's accused of planting were found the day of the Jan. 6 riot, though investigators have said they were place near the RNC and DNC on Jan. 5.
