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 both the Democratic and Republican national committees the night before the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol appeared at a federal detention hearing before a magistrate judge on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, authorities arrested Brian Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia. He has not yet made a defence. Cole’s lawyers argued that he should be released while awaiting trial because he does not pose any danger. They also noted that Cole agreed to be under home surveillance via GPS monitoring and would live under the supervision of a relative. The defense rebuked federal prosecutors who pressed for the suspect to remain in custody.
Cole’s attorneys argued Tuesday that their client is on the autism spectrum and has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In a recent court filingThey also wrote that Cole had “zero criminal history” and “zero evidence that he would flee.” They claim that because none of the bombs exploded, no one was “actually harmed” as a result of the crimes Cole is accused of.
But according to a recent memo from the ministry of justiceCole allegedly confessed to his crimes after being arrested by law enforcement. At that time, his home was also searched and many bomb-making parts were found in the house. The FBI also obtained Cole’s credit card statements showing the purchase of various bomb-making materials.
The documents state that Cole, 30, said in a video interview with authorities that he was in Washington, D.C., to protest the outcome of the 2020 election on January 5. He initially claimed that he did not plant the pipe bombs and that he was not the person seen on security cameras the evening of the attempted attack.
However, when the interviewing agents “remind the defendant that lying to them is an additional criminal offense” and asked again if he was the person in the video, the defendant “paused for approximately fifteen seconds, placed his head face down on the table, and answered ‘yes’.”
The application states that “the defendant gave the interviewing agents a detailed tour of the stages of construction, transportation and placement of the pipe bombs.”
When agents pressed Cole on his reasoning, according to the papers, he said “after watching the whole thing, something broke, it got worse.”
Cole said he wanted to do something to the “parties” because “they are in charge.” When asked about the decision to place the bombs at the RNC and DNC headquarters, the defendant reportedly replied: “I really don’t like either side at this point.”
Later in the interview, Cole explained that the idea to use pipe bombs stemmed from his “interest in history”, particularly the Troubles in Northern Ireland. “The defendant denied that his actions were directed at Congress or related to hearings scheduled for January 6,” according to court documents. He was also “considerably relieved” that the devices did not explode and told agents that he placed the bombs at night because he did not want to kill people, according to the filing.
Cole’s lawyers requested the judge order his release any video or written “statement, confession, or admission” that the defendant provides to his or her legal team.
Federal prosecutors, meanwhile, argue that Cole “poses an unacceptable risk of danger to the public if released,” as he 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 sentence of up to 20 years in prison).
According to CBS News, Judge Martin J Sharbaugh said he would not decide on Tuesday whether Cole would be released from custody, but noted that he would make a “quick” decision.
Cole’s arrest was the biggest breakthrough in a case that has long baffled law enforcement and inspired countless conspiracy theories over the years as the search for the perpetrator took place.
