A man accused of planting pipe bombs in Washington on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol appeared in court for the first time Friday afternoon, though the brief hearing offered no additional details into his possible motivations.
Brian Cole Jr., 30, was charged Thursday with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and attempted malicious destruction by means of an explosive material. Dozens of FBI agents and teams in camouflage apprehended him at his Northern Virginia home.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Jones said Friday in U.S. District Court in Washington that Cole spoke with law enforcement for more than four hours the day prior. Two people familiar with the matter previously described Cole as an extremist in his political beliefs. They spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of an ongoing investigation.
The arrest, nearly five years after the discovery of the pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican national committees, marked a breakthrough in a case mired by conspiracy theories and dead ends. Justice Department officials said the arrest came after investigators took a fresh look at evidence this year.
In a packed courtroom, Cole spoke only to tell U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya his name, age, that his highest level of education was high school and that he understood the charges he faces. He is represented by private attorney John Shoreman and will be held in jail until his next hearing on Dec. 15.
Jones said prosecutors would provide the defense with a hard drive containing the Thursday interview with law enforcement, surveillance footage and the purchase history data referenced in the charging documents.
As Cole was led out of the courtroom in a short-sleeve beige jumpsuit, some attendees yelled, “We love you!”
A woman at the home of Cole’s grandmother said Thursday of the allegations, “We don’t know anything. They haven’t told us anything all day long.”
Asked about Cole, she said: “He’s a quiet boy. I really don’t think he could do what they say.”
Salvador Rizzo, Perry Stein, Aaron C. Davis, Jon Swaine, and Ellie Silverman contributed to this report.
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