The suspect in the case of the pipe bombs placed in Washington D.C. on January 5, 2021, has been ordered to remain behind bars until his trial, as per the decision of a federal magistrate judge. The accused, Brian J. Cole Jr. from Virginia, came under scrutiny after two improvised explosive devices were discovered near the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters, one day prior to the Capitol riot. Cole's detention was reported on by a variety of news outlets following court proceedings.
Fox 5 DC relayed that during last week's arguments, Cole's defense lawyers contended that their client posed no threat to the community, with an emphasis on his lack of criminal history, employment record, and the non-physical nature of the alleged act. Despite these arguments, U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered that Cole be held, stating, "There are no conditions of release the Court could impose to reasonably assure the safety of the community." Cole's legal team has requested access to any audio or video recordings of his supposed confession and additional evidence the prosecutors plan to use.
Separate filings as noted by CBS News, indicate that although Cole has been cooperative since his arrest, the Justice Department underscored him as an "intolerable risk" to public safety, stressing the magnitude of the charges against him. The court's ordering of Cole's pretrial detention was primarily founded on the notion that Cole's release could potentially lead to further acts of violence.
Federal agents apprehending Cole on December 4 found bomb-making materials in his car and in a closet at his home, suggesting continuous access to such components. As mentioned by The New York Times, Cole had repeatedly wiped his cellphone, possibly to conceal information, a detail that further concerned Judge Sharbaugh. During Cole's post-arrest interview, he purportedly confessed to building the bomb devices with explosive powder and admitted to setting the timers to go off, although he claimed he did not intend to interfere with the Congressional certification of the election results.
At this stage of the legal process, Cole faces two criminal counts, but the grand jury's indictment acceptance is on hold as broader legal questions about the use of local grand juries for federal crimes are still being debated. Despite this, Cole's indictment by a local grand jury was accepted by Sharbaugh, with the understanding that federal prosecutors intend to seek a fresh indictment from a federal grand jury imminently.
