The trial of Brian J. Cole Jr., accused of planting pipe bombs near political party headquarters, is set for February, after a judge rejected his argument that he should be covered by President Trump’s January 6 pardons.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A federal trial has been scheduled for February 16, 2027, for Brian J. Cole Jr., a Virginia man accused of planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021. The devices, discovered on January 6, did not detonate, but Cole faces multiple charges, including terrorism and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction. 📺 DETAIL: U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, appointed by former President Joe Biden, set the trial date during a brief hearing. Earlier this week, Ali ruled that President Donald J. Trump‘s blanket pardons for more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the January 6 protests do not apply to Cole, rejecting defense arguments that his alleged actions were directly tied to the events at the Capitol. The judge concluded the pardons were limited to offenses related to the Capitol protest itself and did not cover the separate bombing allegations. Cole was arrested nearly a year after the pardons were issued, and prosecutors say he confessed when questioned by FBI agents. Authorities allege he placed two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee the night before the riot, though neither device detonated before being discovered on January 6. A federal grand jury charged Cole with interstate transportation of explosives, malicious intent to use explosives, committing an act of terrorism while armed, and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction. 🎯 IMPACT: If convicted, Cole faces severe penalties, underscoring the government’s determination to pursue charges related to domestic terrorism. 📺 FLASHBACK: The pipe bombs were discovered on the same day as the Capitol protests, raising concerns at the time about a coordinated threat to government institutions. The devices were safely defused, but authorities warned they were not dummies, and could have inflicted catastrophic harm. |
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