A federal judge has rejected a motion to dismiss criminal charges against Brian Cole Jr., the man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters on the eve of January 6, 2021.

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled that President Donald Trump’s pardons of individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot were "expressly limited" to those convicted of offenses related to that day’s events and do not apply to Cole.

Cole’s legal team argued that his actions were "inextricably and demonstrably tethered" to the January 6 events. They cited filings indicating Cole told the FBI he traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend a 2020 election-related protest, suggesting he was part of "the same political controversy that animated the January 6 crowd." They also noted the bombs were allegedly planted on January 5 but discovered the following afternoon.

However, the Justice Department contended that the pardon explicitly excludes Cole’s alleged conduct. Judge Ali agreed, stating, "Even assuming that the conduct Cole is charged with is 'related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,' the pardon is expressly limited to people who had been 'convicted of offenses' related to those events."

Ali further noted that Cole had not been convicted when the pardon was issued and was not charged until many months after the proclamation. Cole was charged last year with interstate transportation of explosives and malicious attempt to use explosives, nearly five years after the bombs were planted.

Prior to these legal proceedings, Cole worked as a campaign digital reporter covering President Trump’s 2024 campaign and served as an associate producer for "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

Sources