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A federal judge on Friday ordered the man accused of placing pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic national headquarters in Washington, D.C., to remain in custody pending trial.
In his order, federal Judge Matthew Sharbaugh said Brian Cole is entitled to the presumption of innocence, like all defendants.
“The Court concludes that the government bore the ultimate burden of demonstrating that there are no conditions of release that the Court could impose to reasonably ensure the safety of the community,” he wrote.
“The Court understands its 'serious constitutional obligation to ensure that the facts and circumstances of each case justify this exceptional treatment,'” the judge continued. “But based on the Court's careful consideration of the relevant factors governing its determination, this case fits those requirements.”
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The FBI executed search warrants Thursday at the home of Brian Cole Jr., who has been accused of planting pipe bombs near the Capitol complex, the RNC and the DNC on January 5, 2021. (WTTG; Department of Justice)
Federal prosecutors argued that Cole should be detained because he poses a danger to the community, pointing to purchases of bomb-making materials through at least August 2022.
Defense attorneys said there was no evidence that Cole posed a future danger, noting that he has done nothing to harm the community in the past five years, Fox 5 DC reported.
Surveillance footage released by the FBI shows the alleged D.C. pipeline bomber walking near the Democratic National Committee on Jan. 5, 2021, along with a photograph of accused suspect Brian Cole Jr., who was ordered detained while awaiting trial. (Department of Justice)
Unexploded pipe bombs were discovered on January 6, 2021, although prosecutors said Cole denied his actions were related to the events at the Capitol that day.
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Although he initially denied involvement, prosecutors allege that Cole later confessed to placing the devices outside the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Cole also allegedly said he was disappointed by the outcome of the election and was sympathetic to claims by President Donald Trump and some allies that it was stolen.
Cole was arrested in Virginia after investigators identified him as the suspect accused of planting pipe bombs near the US Capitol complex and outside the RNC and DNC headquarters on the eve of the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol.
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The bombs did not detonate. Cole was arrested in December 2025.
