In a significant development, federal authorities apprehended Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old Florida resident, on Thursday.
Cole has been indicted on charges of transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction using explosive materials. This arrest comes half a decade after pipe bombs were found outside the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), a case that had seemingly hit a dead end under the Biden administration.
According to Gateway Pundit, during a press conference on Thursday, Bondi praised the investigators for their relentless efforts in "sifting through evidence that had been sitting at the FBI." She clarified that the breakthrough in the case was not due to new tips but rather the meticulous examination of existing evidence. "This investigation is ongoing," Bondi stated. "As we speak, search warrants are being executed, and there could be more charges to come."
FBI Director Kash Patel released a statement, lauding the diligent work of his team. He said, When Dan Bongino and I came to the FBI in March, the pipe bomb investigation had been stalled for going on 5 years. We rebuilt it from scratch re-running every lead, re-testing every piece of evidence, bringing in top experts, and deploying new technology to engineer the break that finally nailed the suspect. Today is the result of that outstanding work. We didnt need new evidence just new leaders, and a new President @realDonaldTrump willing to let good cops be cops.
FBI Co-Deputy Director Dan Bongino also expressed his dissatisfaction with the Biden-era leadership, accusing them of "focusing on other things" instead of resolving one of the most significant domestic terror cases in recent political history. He said, Youre not going to walk into our capital city, put down two explosive devices, and walk off into the sunset. Not going to happen we were going to track this person to the end of the Earth. There was no way he was getting away.
Bongino confirmed that he led a multiagency team that re-examined old evidence, which he strongly suggested was disregarded or overlooked by previous leadership.
The criminal complaint against Cole alleges that he purchased several items across northern Virginia between 2019 and 2020, and shockingly, continued to buy timers, pipes, and batteries even after January 6th. Furthermore, Cole's cellphone recorded seven data transactions between 7:39 p.m. and 8:24 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2021. These transactions coincided with the path the bomber walked, as captured on surveillance footage. The footage shows the suspect placing the DNC device at 7:54 p.m. and the RNC device at 8:16 p.m., perfectly aligning with the tower hits recorded on Cole's phone.
Following the announcement, Cole's family members briefly spoke to the press. The suspect's grandmother, Loretta, expressed disbelief at the charges, describing Cole as naive and harmless. She told The New York Post, Hes almost autistic-like because he doesnt understand a lot of stuff. I hope he is not talking. Hes very naiveHe would not hurt a fly. Hes just not that kind of person. I dont believe this at all. Hes not a terrorist.
She also revealed that Cole works for the family's bail bondsman company, "Brian Cole Bail Bonds," and had a stint with DoorDash. He doesnt have any ties to DC, she added. I dont even know how they included him in this.
The suspect's step-grandfather, Earl Donnette, confirmed to NBC News that he had spoken with the FBI about his step-grandson, but declined to comment further. Brian Cole Sr., Coles father, also declined to comment. NBC reported that investigators were seen blocking off the entrance to the suspect's father's business with police tape.
A neighbor described Brian Cole Jr. as very antisocial, stating to The New York Post, He keeps to himself. The case continues to unfold, with the potential for more charges to be filed, as investigators delve deeper into the evidence and the suspect's background.
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