Feds say man accused of planting DC pipe bombs confessed, admitting he targeted both parties

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Brian Cole Jr. reportedly admitted to planting pipe bombs on Jan 6

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Federal prosecutors say the man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic national headquarters in Washington, D.C., has confessed to the crime, a development highlighted by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro as the long-running case moves forward.

In a post on X, Pirro said newly filed court documents show Brian Cole Jr. admitted responsibility for the devices and provided investigators with a detailed confession, nearly five years after the bombs were placed and failed to detonate.

Pirro said the filings underscore both the suspect’s alleged motive and the government’s continued push for accountability in what she described as an attack on the nation’s political institutions.

"My office has filed court documents that Brian Cole, Jr., accused of placing pipe bombs outside the RNC and DNC has admitted that he was responsible for the devices and gave a detailed confession to the charged offenses, telling law enforcement he was frustrated with both political parties," Pirro said. "These documents make clear that my office with our law enforcement partners are working vigorously to secure justice in the attempted attack on our nation’s political institutions — nearly five years after the devices were placed and thankfully failed to detonate."

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Prosecutors detailed the allegations in a memo filed with the Justice Department, arguing that Cole, arrested earlier this month, should remain detained as the case moves forward.

Cole was arrested in Woodbridge, Virginia, after investigators identified him as the suspect accused of placing pipe bombs near the Capitol complex and outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters, marking the first major break in a case that had gone cold for years.

Sunday’s memo provides the most detailed government account to date, including statements prosecutors say Cole made to investigators. It also cites evidence such as bomb-making materials recovered from his home after his arrest, which officials say link him to the crime.

EVIDENCE AGAINST J6 PIPE BOMB SUSPECT WAS JUST ‘SITTING THERE' FOR YEARS, DOJ SAYS

Brian J. Cole Jr., the D.C. pipe bomb suspect, made his first court appearance on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Dana Verkouteren)

Undetonated homemade bombs were discovered Jan. 6, though prosecutors said Cole denied his actions were connected to the events at the Capitol that day.

Although he initially denied involvement, prosecutors allege Cole later confessed to placing the devices outside the RNC and DNC.

Cole also allegedly said he was disillusioned by the election outcome and sympathetic to claims by President Donald Trump and some allies that it had been stolen.

FBI RELEASES NEW SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF SUSPECT WHO PLACED PIPE BOMBS NEAR DNC, RNC OFFICES IN DC

The Department of Justice releases new photos of Brian J. Cole, who was arrested by the FBI for alleged involvement in the D.C. pipe bomb incident. (Department of Justice)

"In the defendant’s view, if people ‘feel that, you know, something as important as voting in the federal election is being tampered with, is being, you know, being – you know, relegated null and void, then, like, someone needs to speak up, right? Someone up top. You know, just to, just to at the very least calm things down,’" prosecutors wrote.

They added that when agents returned to ask questions about his motive, Cole explained that "something just snapped" after "watching everything, just everything getting worse."

The suspect is seen walking outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters moments before placing one of two pipe bombs discovered near party offices in Washington, D.C. (FBI)

"The defendant wanted to do something ‘to the parties’ because ‘they were in charge,’" prosecutors wrote. "When asked why he placed the devices at the RNC and DNC, the defendant responded, ‘I really don’t like either party at this point.’"

Prosecutors said Cole also told investigators the idea to use pipe bombs stemmed from his interest in the historical conflict in Northern Ireland.

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Cole’s attorneys are expected to argue against his detention at a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in federal court in Washington.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.