D.C. pipe bomb suspect blamed both parties, was inspired by Trump claims: feds

"The man accused of placing pipe bombs outside the DNC and RNC headquarters on the night before the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol said he targeted both parties because they were in charge, federal investigators said Sunday. Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old Virginia man, told the FBI he was inspired by President Trump's baseless claims that the 2020 election had been rigged, and he believed someone had to do something about it."

"After initially denying he was the man seen on video planting the bombs on the night of Jan. 5, 2021, outside both parties' national headquarters in Washington, D.C., Cole eventually confessed to the scheme in a lengthy interview with FBI agents, the feds said. Cole claimed no one knew his political views and that he told his family he drove 20 miles north from Woodbridge, Va., to the nation's capital to attend a protest in support of Trump, according to prosecutors."

Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old Virginia man, placed two improvised pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on the night before the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He targeted both parties because he believed they were in charge and said he was inspired by President Trump's baseless claims that the 2020 election had been rigged. Cole initially denied involvement but later confessed in a lengthy FBI interview and said he drove from Woodbridge, Va., to attend a Trump protest. He placed the bombs in a shoebox with 60-minute timers; neither exploded and no one was injured. Federal prosecutors requested that Cole remain jailed pending trial, and a detention hearing is scheduled.

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