Suspected DC pipe bomber appears at detention hearing after alleged confession | US Capitol attack

The man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican national committees the night before the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol appeared at a federal detention hearing Tuesday before a magistrate judge.

Earlier this month, authorities arrested Brian Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia. He has not yet entered a plea. Cole’s lawyers argued he should be released pending trial because he poses no danger. They also noted that Cole had agreed to home detention enhanced by GPS monitoring and that he would live under the supervision of a parent. The defense chastised federal prosecutors who insisted the suspect remain in custody.

Cole’s lawyers argued Tuesday that their client is on the autism spectrum and has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In a recent court filing, they also wrote that Cole had “no criminal history” and there was “no evidence he would flee.” They argue that no one was “actually harmed” as a result of the crimes Cole was accused of, since none of the bombs exploded.

However, according to a recent Justice Department memo, Cole allegedly confessed to his crimes after being arrested by law enforcement. At the time, his home was also searched and several bomb components were found there. The FBI also obtained Cole’s credit card statements, which they noted showed the purchase of several materials used to make the bombs.

The documents state that in a video interview with authorities, Cole, 30, said he was in Washington DC to protest the outcome of the 2020 election on January 5. He initially maintained that he had not planted the pipe bombs and that he was not the person pictured in surveillance footage on the evening of the attempted attacks.

However, after the interrogating officers “reminded the accused that lying to them constituted an additional criminal offense” and asked him again if he was the individual in the video, he “paused for approximately fifteen seconds, placed his head face down on the table and responded ‘yes’.”

The filing goes on to note that “the defendant explained in detail to the interrogating officers the construction, transportation, and planting of the pipe bombs.”

According to the papers, when officers pressed Cole’s motives, he said “something broke” after “looking at everything, everything was getting worse.”

Cole said he wanted to do something “for the parties” because “they were in charge.” Asked about his decision to place the bombs at the RNC and DNC headquarters, the defendant reportedly responded, “I really don’t like either party at this point.” »

Later in the interview, Cole apparently explained that the idea to use pipe bombs came from “his interest in history,” particularly the Troubles in Northern Ireland. “The defendant denied that his actions were directed against Congress or related to the proceedings scheduled for January 6,” according to court documents. He was also “pretty relieved” that the devices didn’t explode and told agents he planted the bombs at night because he didn’t want to kill people, according to the filing.

Cole’s lawyers requested that the judge order the release of any video or written “statements, admissions or admissions” from the defendant to his legal team.

Meanwhile, federal prosecutors say that since Cole is charged with transporting explosives across state lines and maliciously attempting to use those explosives to damage or destroy property — the latter of which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years — he “poses an intolerable risk of danger to the community if released.”

According to CBS News, Judge Martin J Sharbaugh said he would not decide on Tuesday whether to release Cole, but noted he would make a “swift” decision.

Cole’s arrest was the most significant development in a case that has long baffled law enforcement officials and inspired myriad conspiracy theories throughout the perpetrator’s years of research.