Federal judge orders Jan. 6 pipe bomb suspect to remain detained ahead of trial
A federal magistrate judge ordered that Brian Cole jr.,the Virginia man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the democratic and Republican National Committee buildings on Jan. 5, 2021, remain in federal detention ahead of trial. U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh rejected a defense request for home detention, concluding the Justice Department showed that no release conditions would reasonably assure community safety. The judge cited allegations that Cole persistently acquired and retained bombmaking parts and had the capability and inclination to build and deploy explosive devices in public. Defense attorneys pointed to Cole’s lack of a criminal record and a diagnosis of Level 1 autism, but the court found the seriousness of the charges outweighed those factors. Cole faces counts including transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce with intent to kill, injure, or intimidate, and attempted malicious destruction through fire or explosives; the pipe bombs, which did not detonate, were found on Jan.6, 2021. Cole was identified as a suspect nearly five years later and was arrested in Virginia in early December 2025; he has not yet entered a plea.
Federal judge orders Jan. 6 pipe bomb suspect to remain detained ahead of trial
A federal judge said Friday that Brian Cole Jr., the Virginia man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee buildings on Jan. 5, 2021, will remain in federal detention ahead of his trial.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh declined to release Cole to home detention, writing in his Friday order that the Justice Department sufficiently proved that “there are no conditions of release the Court could impose to reasonably assure the safety of the community.”
“Although home incarceration and a GPS monitor would provide some check against Mr. Cole’s ability to carry out any menacing or dangerous conduct in the community, the Court is simply not satisfied these conditions rise to the necessary level for the reasons explained,” Sharbaugh’s ruling reads.
“This is particularly true based on the severity of the potential danger Mr. Cole is alleged to pose, given his alleged persistent acquisition and retention of so-called ‘bombmaking parts,’ and given his reported penchant and capacity to create explosive devices and deploy them in public settings,” the ruling reads.
During a Tuesday hearing, Cole’s lawyers pointed to his lack of a criminal record and “Level 1” autism for reasons why he should be released to home detention, while government prosecutors warned releasing him to such detention would be dangerous.
Sharbaugh noted Cole’s lack of a criminal record as a “significant distinction” from most people who appear before the federal court, but he also emphasized the seriousness of the charges against Cole during Tuesday’s hearing. The magistrate judge ultimately sided with the Justice Department’s arguments for keeping him locked up pending a trial.
JUDGE CONSIDERS RELEASING JAN. 6 PIPE BOMB DEFENDANT INTO HOME DETENTION
Cole was charged by the Justice Department with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce with the intent to kill, injure, or intimidate, and attempted malicious destruction by means of fire or explosives, for allegedly planting the pipe bombs on the eve of the Capitol riot.
The pipe bombs, which failed to detonate, were discovered on Jan. 6, 2021, but it took the Justice Department nearly five years to identify Cole as a suspect. Cole was arrested at his Virginia home in early December 2025, and he has not entered a plea in the case.
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