In a move that could soon bring closure to a mystery investigated by federal law enforcement for nearly five years, the FBI announced a person has been arrested for allegedly planting pipe bombs in Washington ahead of the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
The suspect was identified as Brian Jerome Cole Jr., 30, of Northern Virginia, Attorney GeneralPam Bondi said in a Thursday, Dec. 4, news briefing.
The pipe bombs were placed near the offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees on the night of Jan. 5, 2021, the FBI previously said. The explosives did not detonate.
Federal law enforcement officials said they located Cole by using evidence they already had – not a new tip – including cell phone data and purchasing records that a special team of investigators was brought in to reevaluate.
“That evidence has been sitting there collecting dust,” Bondi said.
