**Man Accused of Planting Pipe Bombs Outside DNC and RNC Headquarters Expressed Disillusionment with 2020 Election**
WASHINGTON — Brian J. Cole Jr., the man accused of placing two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican national committees on the eve of the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, told investigators after his arrest that he felt compelled to “speak up” for those who believed the 2020 election was stolen. Prosecutors revealed these statements in a Justice Department memo arguing that Cole should remain in custody as the case proceeds.
The memo provides the most detailed account yet of Cole’s alleged statements to investigators and highlights evidence linking him to the bomb plots, including bomb-making components found at his home following his arrest earlier this month.
The homemade bombs, which never detonated, were discovered on the afternoon of January 6, the same day rioters supporting then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory.
Although Cole initially denied any involvement with the pipe bombs or a connection to the Capitol events, he later confessed to placing the devices outside both the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) offices. He expressed disillusionment with the 2020 election process and frustration with both major political parties, sympathizing with claims by Trump and his allies that the election had been stolen.
According to the memo, Cole told agents that if people “feel that, you know, something as important as voting in the federal election is being tampered with… then, like, someone needs to speak up, right? Someone up top. You know, just to, just to at the very least calm things down.”
He further explained that “something just snapped” after “watching everything, just everything getting worse,” and that he wanted to do something “to the parties” because “they were in charge.”
When asked why he targeted the RNC and DNC, Cole reportedly said, “I really don’t like either party at this point.”
Cole was arrested on the morning of December 4 at his home in Woodbridge, Virginia, marking a significant development in a nearly five-year-old investigation.
His attorneys are expected to present their arguments regarding his detention status ahead of a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Washington’s federal court.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/12/29/pipe-bomb-suspect-just-snapped/
