Brian J. Cole, Jr., a 30-year-old resident of Woodbridge, Virginia, has been charged in a federal indictment with planting two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on January 5, 2021. The devices were placed outside the headquarters of both the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in Washington, D.C., according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The indictment supersedes an earlier federal indictment returned by a D.C. Superior Court grand jury during the holidays. Cole is now charged with interstate transportation of explosives and malicious attempt to use explosives.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox from the Washington Field Office, and Interim Chief Jeffrey Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in announcing the charges.
“Given that Cole crossed state lines and targeted the political leadership of both parties for which there is an inherent crime of federal jurisdiction, handling this in federal court is most proper,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The FBI and my office worked around the clock to ensure that this defendant is charged with the right crimes for his dangerous acts.”
On January 6, 2021, law enforcement found IEDs near both party headquarters close to the U.S. Capitol on a day when Congress was meeting to certify the results of the 2020 election.
Neither device detonated; U.S. Capitol Police performed a render safe procedure without incident.
A complaint filed on December 3, 2025 stated that Cole had purchased several components used to manufacture IEDs at multiple retailers in northern Virginia during 2019 and 2020.
At about 1 p.m. on January 6, law enforcement agencies received reports regarding a suspected IED near RNC headquarters; fifteen minutes later another suspected device was reported near DNC headquarters just blocks away.
Video surveillance footage identified one individual placing both devices on January 5 while wearing dark pants, a grey hooded sweatshirt, gloves, Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes, eyeglasses and carrying a backpack; their face was obscured by a mask.
Cole’s Nissan Sentra was seen passing through a License Plate Reader at South Capitol Street exit from I-395 South at approximately 7:10 p.m., less than half a mile from where surveillance first observed an individual matching this description walking near North Carolina and New Jersey Avenues SE.
Cell phone records indicated Cole’s phone connected with cell towers in proximity to both sites between 7:39 p.m. and 8:24 p.m., consistent with movement tracked via video analysis by investigators.
The investigation involves collaboration among several agencies including the FBI Washington Field Office, U.S. Capitol Police, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia; prosecution will be handled by that office.
