Pretrial Release Denied in January 6 Pipe Bomb Case
A federal magistrate judge on Friday denied the pretrial release of Brian J. Cole Jr., who is charged with planting two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican National Committees on January 5, 2021.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ruled that Cole must remain incarcerated before trial, concluding that no conditions of release could adequately protect the public from the alleged danger posed by Cole.
Prosecutorial Claims
Justice Department prosecutors assert that Cole confessed to placing pipe bombs outside both the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters hours prior to the January 6 Capitol riot. According to prosecutors, Cole stated his intent for the explosives to detonate and expressed a desire for the event to be reported in the news.
Judge Sharbaugh remarked on the potential consequences if the plan had succeeded, citing the possibility of significant property damage in Washington, D.C., and injury to DNC or RNC staff and other individuals.
Prosecutors further allege that Cole informed investigators after his arrest last month that he believed someone needed to advocate for individuals who considered the 2020 election results fraudulent. He reportedly stated he targeted political parties due to their perceived authority.
Potential Penalties and Defense Argument
If convicted on both charges, Cole faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years for one charge and up to 20 years for a second charge, which includes a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.
Cole's defense attorneys requested his release on home detention with GPS monitoring. They cited Cole's lack of a prior criminal record, diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a stable living situation with his parents in Woodbridge, Virginia. Defense counsel argued that Cole does not pose a danger to the community, citing his continued residence at home without incident for the past four years.
Judicial Concerns
Conversely, prosecutors stated that Cole continued to acquire bomb-making components for several months following the January 6, 2021, incident. They reported that Cole told the FBI he planted the pipe bombs because "something just snapped."
Judge Sharbaugh expressed concerns regarding the abrupt and impulsive nature of Cole's alleged actions, noting the potential for similar conduct to recur.