Pipe bomb suspect told FBI he targeted US political parties because they were 'in charge,' memo says

"WASHINGTON (AP) - The man accused of placing two pipe bombs in Washington on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol told investigators after his arrest that he believed someone needed to "speak up" for people who believed the 2020 election was stolen and that he wanted to target the country's political parties because they were "in charge," prosecutors said Sunday."

"The memo provides the most detailed government account of statements Cole is alleged to have made to investigators and points to evidence, including bomb-making components found at his home after his arrest, that officials say connects him to the act. The homemade bombs did not detonate and were discovered Jan. 6, the afternoon that rioters supporting President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an effort to halt the certification of his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden."

"Cole denied to investigators that his actions were connected to Congress or the events of Jan. 6, the memo says. But after initially disputing that he had any involvement in the pipe bombs, prosecutors say, he confessed to placing them outside the RNC and DNC and acknowledged feeling disillusioned by the 2020 election, fed up with both political parties and sympathetic to claims by Trump and some of his allies that the contest had been stolen."

Brian J. Cole Jr. was arrested on charges of placing two pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican national committee headquarters in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. He initially denied involvement to investigators but later confessed to placing the devices. Bomb-making components were found at his home. The devices did not detonate. He stated he felt election-related grievances, wanted to "speak up" for people who believed the 2020 election was stolen, and wanted to target both political parties. The devices were discovered the afternoon rioters stormed the Capitol, and prosecutors seek detention pending trial because evidence links him to the devices.

Read at Boston.com