(Washington) The man accused of planting two pipe bombs in Washington the day before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots told investigators after his arrest that he felt it necessary for someone to speak up for those who believe the 2020 election was stolen. He explained that he wanted to target the country’s political parties because they held “power,” prosecutors said Sunday.
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The allegations are contained in an internal Justice Department memo, which maintains that Brian J. Cole Jr., arrested earlier this month for placing pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican National Committees, should remain in custody during the proceedings.
The memo provides the most detailed government account of statements Brian J. Cole Jr. allegedly made to investigators and highlights evidence, including bomb-making materials found in his home after his arrest, that authorities say link him to those acts.
The pipe bombs did not detonate and were discovered on Jan. 6, the same afternoon that rioters supporting President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of his election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.
According to the memo, Brian J. Cole Jr. denied to investigators any connection between his actions and Congress or the events of January 6. However, after initially disputing any involvement in making the pipe bombs, he eventually confessed, according to the prosecution, to having placed them in front of the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
He also acknowledged his disappointment with the election results and his sympathy for allegations of voter fraud made by Donald Trump and some of his allies. According to the memo, he told agents who interviewed him that if people “feel that something as important as the vote in the federal election is being manipulated is, you know, rendered null and void, then someone has to speak up, right?” Someone in a high position. Just to, at least, calm things down. »
He said he “broke down” after “seeing the situation getting worse” and wanting to attack “the parties” because “they were in charge”. Asked why he planted the explosives at the Republican and Democratic national conventions, Brian J. Cole Jr. replied: “Frankly, I don’t like either party right now. »
Brian J. Cole Jr. was arrested the morning of Dec. 4 at his home in Woodbridge, Virginia, in what law enforcement called a major breakthrough in a nearly five-year-old investigation. His lawyers will also have the opportunity to present their arguments regarding his detention before the hearing scheduled for Tuesday in federal court in Washington.
