{"id":2581311,"date":"2026-03-18T12:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T16:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/like-it-or-not-attorneys-say-trump-pardon-applies-to-jan-6-pipe-bomber\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T12:54:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T16:54:46","slug":"like-it-or-not-attorneys-say-trump-pardon-applies-to-jan-6-pipe-bomber","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/like-it-or-not-attorneys-say-trump-pardon-applies-to-jan-6-pipe-bomber\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Like it or not&#8217;: Attorneys say Trump pardon applies to Jan. 6 pipe bomber"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flike-it-or-not-attorneys-say-trump-pardon-applies-to-jan-6-pipe-bomber%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2581311&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The piece reports on Brian Cole Jr.\u2019s bid to have his charges dismissed by arguing that former President trump\u2019s broad January 6 clemency extends to his conduct surrounding the events, including actions on January 5. Cole\u2019s attorneys filed a 23-page motion claiming the charges of interstate transportation of explosives and attempted use of explosives are inextricably linked to January 6 and therefore fall within the pardon\u2019s scope, which directed the Justice Department to dismiss cases tied to those events and granted a broad pardon to \u201call other individuals\u201d with jan. 6 offenses. They emphasize Trump\u2019s clemency language and the distinction that a limited group of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-is-indicted-heres-what-happens-to-him-next-in-court\/\" title=\"Trump Is Indicted: Here...s What Happens to Him Next in Court\">high-profile defendants<\/a> was named for commutations, while others were pardoned, arguing this shows the president\u2019s intent to extend protection beyond those explicitly listed. prosecutors counter that the key acts occurred before January 6 and may fall outside the pardon\u2019s reach, and they note Cole has not yet been convicted, complicating the applicability of the pardon.Legal experts say the interpretation is unsettled and could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-appointed-judge-drops-the-hammer-on-transgender-agenda-law-goes-into-full-effect-in-a-few-weeks\/\" title=\"Trump-appointed judge enforces law against transgender agenda, effective soon.\">reach higher courts<\/a>, with the DOJ yet to respond to the motion.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">&lsquo;Like it or not&rsquo;: Attorneys say Trump pardon applies to Jan. 6 pipe bomber<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2446134\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The man accused of planting pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic national committee headquarters on the eve of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/january-6\/\">Jan. 6 riot<\/a> is asking a federal judge to dismiss the case against him, arguing that President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4416992\/dc-pipe-bomb-suspect-says-trump-january-6-pardon-covers-him\/&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj_luXk3KeTAxVdK1kFHXpAABUQFnoECCUQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw2EzxJQ_yC3V3vkPuVjcWT-\">Donald Trump<\/a>&rsquo;s sweeping pardon for Capitol riot defendants <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4416992\/dc-pipe-bomb-suspect-says-trump-january-6-pardon-covers-him\/&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj_luXk3KeTAxVdK1kFHXpAABUQFnoECCUQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw2EzxJQ_yC3V3vkPuVjcWT-\">applies to his alleged conduct.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Attorneys for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4444895\/dc-pipe-bomber-defendant-brian-cole-jr-seeks-appeal-pretrial-release\/\">Brian Cole Jr.<\/a> filed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4416992\/dc-pipe-bomb-suspect-says-trump-january-6-pardon-covers-him\/&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj_luXk3KeTAxVdK1kFHXpAABUQFnoECCUQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw2EzxJQ_yC3V3vkPuVjcWT-\">a 23-page motion<\/a> Monday evening contending that the charges are &ldquo;inextricably and demonstrably tethered&rdquo; to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and therefore fall within the scope of Trump&rsquo;s clemency.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4494006\/doj-asks-appeals-court-to-allow-detention-of-hamas-praising-foreign-researcher\/\">DOJ asks appeals court to allow detention of Hamas-praising foreign researcher<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4494575\/mamdani-motion-adams-city-defense-assault\/\">Mamdani files motion to cut Adams off from NYC&#8217;s defense in assault case<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4494591\/louisville-clerk-pushes-back-trump-effort-access-voter-rolls\/\">Louisville clerk pushes back on Trump administration&#8217;s nationwide effort to access voter rolls<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A courtroom sketch of Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, the man accused of planting a pair of pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties on Jan. 5, 2021, in Washington, being sworn in, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Moxila Upadhyaya, at Federal Court in Washington, as U.S. Attorney Charles Jones, seated left, and Defense Attorney John Shoreman, seated center, look on. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;The Pardon&mdash;like it or not&mdash;applies to Mr. Cole, based on the ordinary and plain meaning of the Pardon&rsquo;s language as applied to the relevant facts in this case,&rdquo; the attorneys, Mario Williams and John Shoreman, wrote in a motion to U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, an appointee of former President Joe Biden. &ldquo;Wherefore, for the reasons stated above, Mr. Cole requests that this Motion be granted and the charges against him dismissed, in their entirety.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy\/4492414\/chris-wright-americans-high-oil-prices-weeks\/\"><strong>CHRIS WRIGHT ADMITS AMERICANS WILL FEEL HIGH OIL PRICES FOR &lsquo;A FEW MORE WEEKS&rsquo;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Cole was charged late last year with interstate transportation of explosives and attempted use of explosives after investigators identified him as a suspect nearly five years after the devices were planted. The bombs, discovered on Jan. 6 near the RNC and DNC headquarters, did not detonate, though the FBI has said they were viable.<\/p>\n<p>The motion tees up a key legal question about the scope of Trump&rsquo;s Jan. 6 pardons that defense lawyers hope will be their client&rsquo;s saving grace. Cole has pleaded not guilty to charges of interstate transportation of explosives and attempted use of explosives, charges that carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if convicted.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s January proclamation last year granted clemency to individuals convicted of offenses &ldquo;related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,&rdquo; and directed the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> to dismiss pending cases tied to those events. The proclamation covered roughly 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants charged under the Biden administration, ranging from trespassing cases to more serious assault convictions.<\/p>\n<p>Cole&rsquo;s attorneys argue that the phrase &ldquo;related to&rdquo; is broad enough to include conduct that occurred on Jan. 5 but was tied to the same political event, pointing to allegations that Cole traveled to Washington for an election protest and that the devices were discovered during the Capitol certification proceedings on Jan. 6. &#65532;<\/p>\n<p>They also emphasize that Trump&rsquo;s clemency order specifically named <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/granting-pardons-and-commutation-of-sentences-for-certain-offenses-relating-to-the-events-at-or-near-the-united-states-capitol-on-january-6-2021\/\">a limited group of high-profile defendants<\/a> whose sentences were commuted, while extending a broader, categorical pardon to &ldquo;all other individuals&rdquo; convicted of Jan. 6-related offenses, a distinction the defense argues shows the president&rsquo;s intent to extend the pardon beyond just those explicitly listed.<\/p>\n<p>Legal experts say the argument may carry weight, though it is far from settled, and will attract strong counter-arguments from prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not a frivolous argument that they are making,&rdquo; Case Western Reserve University law professor Mike Benza said, noting the unusually broad wording of the pardon. At the same time, he said the outcome will depend heavily on how courts interpret the language, a dispute that could <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >ultimately reach higher courts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4485411\/war-powers-act-normalized-presidential-use-force\/\"><strong>IN FOCUS: HOW THE WAR POWERS ACT NORMALIZED PRESIDENTIAL USES OF FORCE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A central issue is whether Cole&rsquo;s alleged conduct is defined as occurring before Jan. 6 or as part of a continuing act that extended into that day. Benza said crimes involving explosives or planning can span a period of time, allowing defense attorneys to argue the conduct was not complete until Jan. 6, when the devices were discovered and neutralized.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors, however, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3909210\/jan-6-bomb-suspects-arrest-exposes-holes-in-fbis-story-about-cell-phone-data\/\">already have and are likely to further emphasize<\/a> the opposite &mdash; that the key acts, including transporting materials and planting the devices, occurred well before Jan. 6 and therefore fall outside the pardon&rsquo;s scope.<\/p>\n<p>Benza also pointed to the charges themselves as significant. By focusing on transportation and attempted use of explosives, rather than broader terrorism-related counts, prosecutors may be trying to &ldquo;distance the charges from January 6&rdquo; and avoid triggering the clemency order.<\/p>\n<p>Another potential hurdle for Cole is the wording of the pardon, which applies to individuals &ldquo;convicted&rdquo; of Jan. 6-related offenses. Cole has not been convicted, and his indictment was not pending at the time the pardon was issued, factors the government is expected to emphasize.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Cole&rsquo;s attorneys argue precedent cuts in their favor, citing the case of Jan. 6 rioter <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3116912\/jan-6-defendant-sentence-20-years-for-assaulting-officers\/\">David Dempsey<\/a>, who received a full pardon despite violently assaulting police officers and previously being sentenced to 20 years in prison.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3909210\/jan-6-bomb-suspects-arrest-exposes-holes-in-fbis-story-about-cell-phone-data\/\">DC PIPE BOMBER DEFENDANT BRIAN COLE JR. SEEKS TO APPEAL FOR PRETRIAL RELEASE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The case of January 6, 2021 rioter, David Dempsey, further strengthens Mr. Cole&rsquo;s position,&rdquo; they wrote. &#65532;<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ has not yet filed its response to the motion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nBrian Cole Jr., accused of placing two pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic national committee headquarters around Jan. 6, 2021, is asking a federal judge to throw out the case, arguing that Trump\u2019s broad pardon for Capitol riot defendants covers his alleged conduct. His lawyers filed a 23-page motion asserting the charges are closely tied to the Jan. 6 events and thus fall within the clemency\u2019s reach. They contend the pardon\u2019s language-covering those convicted of Jan. 6-related offenses and directing the DOJ to dismiss related cases-supports applying it to Cole. Cole, who hasn\u2019t been convicted, is charged with interstate transportation and attempted use of explosives, offenses with a maximum 30-year sentence. The pardon, issued last year, extended relief to roughly 1,500 defendants connected to Jan. 6 and included a broad provision for \u201call other individuals\u201d convicted of related offenses. Cole\u2019s attorneys argue the phrase \u201crelated to\u201d is broad enough to include conduct on Jan. 5 tied to the same event. Prosecutors will likely push back, emphasizing that the core acts occurred before Jan. 6 and that the pardon\u2019s scope may not cover Cole. The DOJ has not yet responded to the motion. Legal experts say the argument is plausible but far from settled and could reach higher courts if challenged.<\/p>\n<p>55-character headline:<br \/>\nPardon may apply to Jan. 6 pipe bomber, lawyers say<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2581312,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25339720068249.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[36978,36218,68340,32603,47002],"class_list":["post-2581311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-january-6","tag-legal-analysis","tag-pipe-bomber","tag-political-news","tag-trump-pardon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25339720068249.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2581311"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2581315,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581311\/revisions\/2581315"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2581312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2581311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2581311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2581311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}