Today's News: FBI Arrests Suspect in January 6th Pipe Bomb Case

The arrest marks a breakthrough in a nearly five-year investigation, which officials attribute to a fresh review of existing evidence, including cellphone data and purchase records of bomb components.

Terrence Dorsey

Dec 04, 2025

Photo: FBI/AFP

Date: December 4, 2025
Summary: Federal authorities have arrested Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, in connection with the pipe bombs placed outside the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021, the eve of the January 6th Capitol riot. Cole has been charged with transporting explosive devices and attempted malicious destruction by explosives. The arrest marks a breakthrough in a nearly five-year investigation, which officials attribute to a fresh review of existing evidence, including cellphone data and purchase records of bomb components. While the bombs were viable, they did not detonate, and investigators have not yet determined a motive for Cole’s actions.

Sources

Key Points

Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was arrested and charged in connection with placing two pipe bombs.
The pipe bombs were planted on the evening of January 5, 2021, near the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Cole is charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials.
The devices were viable and capable of causing serious injury or death, but neither detonated.
The arrest followed a nearly five-year investigation that saw a breakthrough after a fresh review of existing evidence.
Evidence used to identify Cole included cellphone tower data placing him near the RNC and DNC on the night of January 5, 2021, and purchase records of bomb components like galvanized pipes, end caps, 9-volt batteries, kitchen timers, electrical wires, and steel wool.
Law enforcement officials stated the investigation is ongoing, with search warrants being executed and potential for more charges.
The motive for planting the bombs is currently unknown to investigators.
The discovery of the bombs occurred on January 6, 2021, during the U.S. Capitol riot, contributing to the day’s chaos and diverting law enforcement resources.
The case has been subject to various conspiracy theories, some amplified by figures now in the FBI’s leadership.

Unique Highlights

NBC News notes that President Donald Trump pardoned hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters, including one charged with setting off an explosive device, and that a former Jan. 6 prosecutor expected a defense lawyer to argue the pardon applied to Cole’s conduct. It also includes a quote from Greg Rosen, a former prosecutor, stating the arrest is a testament to the work of career FBI special agents and prosecutors targeted by the Trump administration.
NBC News mentions Cole’s graduation from Hylton High School in 2013 and that public records do not list his party affiliation. It also specifies that Cole purchased safety glasses, sandpaper, protective gloves, and disinfecting wipes, and that a license plate reader placed his 2017 Nissan Sentra near the scene.
The New York Times describes Kash Patel’s remarks as “ritualized political flattery” towards President Trump and states that while Patel and Bondi declined to discuss motive, Cole is “speaking with federal agents who hope to learn more about his thinking.” It also quotes Darren Cox, head of the FBI’s Washington field office, saying, “We do not forget. We do not give up. And we do not relent.” The article mentions The Blaze, a far-right news outlet, publishing an article claiming the bomber was a former law enforcement official identified by walk analysis, and Dan Bongino pushing back against it.
CNN reports that then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris came within 20 feet of the bomb at the DNC the next morning, and its discovery diverted police. US Attorney Jeneane Pirro described the breakthrough as an “aha moment.” The article details challenges investigators faced, including poor surveillance video quality, common face masks during the pandemic, and the cold winter night.
The Washington Post states that two people familiar with the matter described Cole as an “extremist in his political beliefs.” It specifies that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s Secret Service detail evacuated her from the DNC premises. The article also notes that the FBI identified about 233,000 sales of the same type of black end caps used in the bombs in 2020.
The Wall Street Journal details that the Justice Department subpoenaed major retailers, including Home Depot and Lowe’s, for purchases of commonly sold parts, and that investigators went to Google to identify people who had searched for instructions to make pipe bombs and for directions to the RNC and DNC.
Fox News reports that the first pipe bomb was discovered by a woman doing her laundry in an alleyway. It also cites a congressional report indicating that the FBI, during the Biden administration, began “diverting resources” away from the investigation at the end of February 2021, after less than two months, due to a lack of credible leads.

Attribution of Credit and Criticism of Previous Administration:
- Attorney General Pam Bondi and other officials from the current administration, across NBC News, CNN, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Fox News, criticized the Biden administration for letting the case “languish” or for evidence “sitting there collecting dust” for four years, crediting the current administration’s renewed focus for the breakthrough.
- The New York Times explicitly describes Bondi’s claim that the case languished under the Biden administration as “falsely claiming,” noting that the FBI had gone to great lengths to identify the bomber almost from the moment the devices were discovered. It cites Gregory Rosen, a former prosecutor, who said the arrest is a “testament to the painstaking efforts of the career agents and prosecutors who have worked on this case for years.”
- NBC News also includes Rosen’s perspective, emphasizing the work of career FBI agents and prosecutors.
- Fox News notes that a congressional report revealed the FBI during the Biden administration began “diverting resources” away from the investigation in February 2021, after less than two months, due to a lack of credible leads.
Role and Past Statements of FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino:
- NBC News, The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, and Fox News all report that Dan Bongino, now FBI Deputy Director, previously promoted conspiracy theories on his podcast, suggesting the pipe bombs were an “inside job” or that the FBI knew the bomber’s identity and was covering it up.
- CNN specifically notes that Bongino’s claim in a May interview that the bureau was “closing in on some suspects” was not “exactly true then,” according to people briefed on the matter.
- The New York Times highlights that Bongino did not address his past comments during the news conference but instead praised President Trump and the FBI. It also mentions Bongino pushing back against a specific far-right news report about the bomber’s identity.

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