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A Virginia man has confessed to making and planting two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national committees ahead of Jan. 6, 2021, federal prosecutors said in newly filed court documents.
The suspect, Brian Cole Jr., was arrested this month and is charged with transporting and attempting to use improvised explosive devices in downtown Washington.
“Following his December 4, 2025 arrest, the defendant waived his Miranda rights and gave a detailed confession to the charged offenses,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing submitted Sunday.
According to the filing, surveillance video, cellphone location data and years of purchase records place Cole outside both party headquarters within minutes of each other on Jan. 5, 2021. The FBI later determined the devices were fully functional pipe bombs that failed to detonate and were not discovered until the following day.
Prosecutors said Cole gave a videotaped confession in which he admitted building the devices, transporting them in his car, and setting 60-minute timers before placing them outside the two buildings.
Investigators said Cole told them he believed someone needed to “speak up” for people who thought the 2020 election was stolen and that he chose to target the two major political parties. The allegations were detailed in a Justice Department memo arguing Cole should remain detained while the case proceeds.
The devices were discovered Jan. 6, 2021, as supporters of President Donald Trump gathered at the U.S. Capitol to protest the certification of former President Joe Biden’s election. Prosecutors said Cole denied that his actions were connected to Congress or the events at the Capitol that day.
After initially denying any involvement, prosecutors said Cole admitted to placing the pipe bombs and acknowledged feeling disillusioned by the 2020 election, frustrated with both political parties, and sympathetic to claims by President Trump and some of his allies that the election had been stolen.
When asked why he targeted the RNC and DNC, Cole told investigators, “I really don’t like either party at this point,” according to the filing.