Attorney for Accused DC Pipe Bomber Argues Trump’s January 6 Pardons Cover His Case
Cole’s legal team asserts that his actions are “inextricably and demonstrably tethered” to the January 6 events because he traveled to Washington for an election-related protest and the bombs were planted the day before.
Tommy Flynn
Attorneys for Brian J. Cole Jr. filed a motion in federal court this week arguing that President Donald Trump’s broad pardons for January 6-related offenses should apply to their client, potentially leading to dismissal of all charges.
Cole, 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was arrested on December 4, 2025, after a nearly five-year FBI investigation. He faces charges of interstate transportation of explosives and malicious attempt to use explosives.
The bombs were placed on the evening of January 5, 2021, between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., one outside Democratic National Committee headquarters and one outside Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C. The functional devices were discovered the next morning as Congress prepared to certify the 2020 election results. They did not detonate.
The FBI described the probe as one of its most extensive domestic investigations, involving analysis of thousands of hours of surveillance footage, DNA evidence, cellphone location data, purchase records, and hundreds of tips nationwide before identifying and arresting Cole.
Cole’s legal team asserts that his actions are “inextricably and demonstrably tethered” to the January 6 events because he traveled to Washington for an election-related protest and the bombs were planted the day before. They note he voted for Trump twice and argue the pardon language — covering offenses “related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021” — extends to his case.
Federal prosecutors have not yet responded in court. Cole remains in custody.