The man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters on the eve of Jan. 6, 2021 is now facing two additional felony charges, according to a superseding indictment unsealed Wednesday.
Brian Cole Jr. was already charged in December with transporting and placing the two improvised explosive devices, and the new indictment adds counts of attempting to use weapons of mass destruction and committing an act of terrorism while armed.
In court filings, prosecutors said Cole told investigators he believed the 2020 election had been tampered with and that “someone needs to speak up.” During a 90-minute interview, officials said he walked agents through in detail how he constructed, transported, and planted the pipe bombs, and alleged he purchased bomb-making materials between 2018 and 2020.
Cole has pleaded not guilty to the original charges and has not yet been arraigned on the new indictment.
