Feds intensify hunt for answers after arrest of DC pipe bomb suspect
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Federal agents searching the Virginia home of Brian Cole Jr., who is accused of planting a pipe bomb in Washington on Jan. 5, 2021, carried out a step-by-step operation this week that saw investigators reactivating a case that had seen little action for years.
Cole was arrested last week in Woodbridge, Virginia, after federal investigators identified him as the suspect accused of planting pipe bombs near the Capitol complex, the Republican National Committee (RNC), and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on January 5, 2021. His arrest marked the first major break in a case that had been largely dormant for years.
Retired FBI special agent Jason Pack, who previously led Evidence Response Teams, told Fox News Digital that the search followed the standard sequence used in explosives investigations, starting with clearing the hazard before evidence work. He said careful progress showed investigators were treating the case as if it had just happened.
The operation began with standard security screening used in federal explosives investigations.
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Brian J. Cole was arrested by the FBI for his alleged involvement in the DC pipe bomb incident. (Ministry of Justice)
“Federal agents follow a deliberate and familiar pattern as the search continues at the Woodbridge residence,” Pack said. “The presence of explosive ordnance disposal technicians, bomb technicians and specialized K-9 teams demonstrates that safety is the top priority.”
He explained that investigators must first clear the property of potential explosive hazards to protect personnel and preserve the scene before they begin collecting evidence.
One of the clearest indications of work in progress came from home-based metal paint can agents.
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The FBI is conducting “court-sanctioned activity” at a home in Woodbridge, Va., after authorities arrested a suspect who allegedly planted pipe bomb blocks at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 5, 2021, sources told Fox News on Dec. 4, 2025. (WTTG)
Metal paint cans are a preferred method for collecting and transporting suspected explosive material because they limit contamination and protect volatile samples, Pack said. The boxes also allow forensic laboratories to analyze residues, components and chemical traces that could link a device to a specific person or technique.
Once the crime scene is declared safe, evidence teams can enter the house.
Guided by a federal search warrant and its exhibits, members of the FBI Evidence Response Team typically conduct the next phase of the search and use these documents to determine what they are authorized to seize.
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The FBI raided the house after the suspect’s arrest. (WTTG)
These categories include explosive components or precursor chemicals; tools or materials used in making destructive devices; electronic devices such as phones, hard drives and laptops; records, notes or digital communications that may indicate planning, intent or information; and items that verify identity, occupancy, or control of the residence.
In this investigation, agents are seeking evidence revealing intent, ability, and any connection to the explosives planted on January 5, 2021.
Once the evidence is collected, the long analytical phase of the investigation begins.
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A sketch of Brian Cole Jr.’s first federal court appearance in Washington, DC, on Friday, December 5, 2025. Cole is the prime suspect in the DC pipe incident. (Dana Verkouteren)
All seized electronics will be subject to digital forensic examination to recover communications, calls or location data that may reveal planning or coordination. Labs will also examine artifacts or components to determine whether they match devices used at the Capitol complex, the RNC, or the DNC.
Pack said the Woodbridge search showed the FBI was treating the investigation as if it had just begun, which “could change the entire course” of the case.
“I was the new one handling cold cases and worked as if the crime had been committed that morning,” he said. “Early investigators often do an excellent job. A new perspective simply asks different questions and sometimes identifies details that will eventually bring the criminal to justice.”
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The suspect is seen walking in front of the Democratic National Committee headquarters just before planting one of two pipe bombs found near party offices in Washington, DC. (FBI)
Pack said the U.S. Attorney’s Office is responsible for obtaining warrants and court orders that move the investigation from suspicion to evidence.
“Once the immediate danger has passed, old cases often fold into the pile of files handled by overworked Assistant U.S. Attorneys juggling their own emergencies,” he said. “This could slow down arrest warrants and subpoenas, not because they’re dragging anyone’s feet, but because they’re drowning in urgent matters.”
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The same pressures are affecting FBI agents, Pack said, as new threats emerge every day and old cases are postponed as “investigators rush to the sound of gunfire.”
“There are only 12,000 FBI agents in the world, and this small group is responsible for dealing with every threat that comes our way,” Pack said. “When leadership pours new resources into a case, the whole machine swings forward again. Sunlight finds what the shadows hide, and a second look often makes all the difference.”
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Cole made his first court appearance Friday after being arrested the day before and charged with transporting explosives in interstate commerce and maliciously attempting to destroy property using explosives.
He reportedly admitted to speaking to investigators and planting the devices and expressing doubts about the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, a source close to the investigation told Fox News.
