A newly revealed FBI memorandum has shed light on the motivations of the man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the headquarters of America's two major political parties in early 2021. According to the memo, the suspect stated he targeted the Republican and Democratic national committees because he believed they were "in charge."
Courtroom Details Emerge from 2025 Hearing
The details came to light during a court proceeding in December 2025. Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Moxila Upadhyaya at Federal Court in Washington on Friday, December 5, 2025. The courtroom sketch from that day depicts Cole being sworn in, with U.S. Attorney Charles Jones and Defense Attorney John Shoreman looking on.
Cole faces charges for allegedly planting a pair of pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties on January 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C. The devices were discovered and rendered safe before they could detonate, averting a potential tragedy.
The Suspect's Stated Motivation
The central revelation from the recent hearing is the content of an FBI memo summarizing the suspect's statements. In it, Cole reportedly explained his choice of targets. He told investigators that he selected the two party headquarters because, in his view, the political parties were the entities "in charge."
This statement provides a stark glimpse into the mindset behind the attempted attack, which occurred just one day before the certification of the 2020 presidential election results and the subsequent breach of the U.S. Capitol. The incident added to the extreme tensions surrounding that period in American politics.
Legal Proceedings and Broader Context
The case against Cole has been progressing through the U.S. justice system for nearly five years since the alleged crime. The December 2025 hearing was a procedural step in the ongoing federal prosecution.
While this case is distinctly American, it resonates in Canada as a stark example of political violence and domestic extremism targeting democratic institutions. It serves as a reminder of the security challenges faced by political organizations and the importance of protecting the democratic process from acts of intimidation and terror.
The next steps in the legal process will determine the final outcome for Brian Cole Jr., whose alleged actions aimed at the heart of the U.S. political establishment have now been partially explained by his own reported words to the FBI.
