pipebomber

Accused Capitol riot pipe-bomber Brian Cole Jr. in federal court on Friday pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of planting two pipe bombs outside of respective political party headquarters in Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2021. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 9 (UPI) — Brian Cole Jr. pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges accusing him of placing pipe bombs outside political party headquarters ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol protest.

Cole entered his plea during an arraignment hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He faces charges of interstate transportation of explosives, malicious attempt to use explosives and related federal charges.

Cole, 30, allegedly placed a pipe bomb near the entrances of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., on the night of Jan. 5, 2021, but neither exploded.

Federal prosecutors said he admitted to placing the explosive devices and that he hoped they would explode and generate news coverage.

Cole said the 2020 election was stolen from voters and that he blamed both political parties because they are the ones in charge of the nation’s politics.

Prosecutors said Cole bought materials to make the bombs over several months ahead of the Capitol protest, and investigators used cellular tower data, credit card records and a license plate reader to identify him.

His attorney said Cole has been peaceful, was diagnosed with autism and the pipe bombs were incapable of exploding, CNN reported.

Cole is a resident of Woodbridge, Va., where he lives with other family members inside his mother’s house that is about 30 miles from the capital.

He was employed by a bail bond business and was arrested at his mother’s home on Dec. 4.

A federal grand jury indicted him on the charges for which he was arraigned on Friday.

He has another court hearing scheduled on Jan. 28 to determine if he should remain in detention or be allowed to post bail and be released from custody while the case is argued in court.

An arrested sign was on display during a press conference at the Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4. Brian Cole Jr. is scheduled for a detention hearing Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

Dec. 30 (UPI) — Attorneys for Brian Cole Jr., the man accused of building and laying pipe bombs in Washington, D.C., at two political party headquarters, are arguing for his pre-trial release.

Cole, 30, has autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, his attorneys said in a Monday night filing. He is scheduled for a detention hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

The attorneys argued that “government-induced excitement” around Cole’s arrest is premature and potentially violates court rules.

“The question is whether there is a present danger — a contention the government never actually makes, and something belied by the past four years in which Mr. Cole has lived without incident,” Cole’s attorneys argued in their filing. “No device detonated, no person was injured, and no property was damaged.”

“Whatever risk the government posits is theoretical and backward-looking, belied by the past four years where Mr. Cole lived at home with his family without incident. All of this weighs heavily against an inference of current danger to the community at large,” his attorneys wrote.

Cole was arrested Dec. 4 and hasn’t entered a plea. He is accused of placing two pipe bombs — that never detonated — outside of the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington.

He faces charges of transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials. The charges have a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Jones filed a request Sunday to keep Cole in jail while he awaits trial.

Cole is from Woodbridge, Va., where he lives with his mother and other family members.