{"id":2626861,"date":"2026-07-08T17:11:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T21:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alleged-dc-pipe-bomber-trial-set-for-february-judge\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T17:13:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T21:13:45","slug":"alleged-dc-pipe-bomber-trial-set-for-february-judge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alleged-dc-pipe-bomber-trial-set-for-february-judge\/","title":{"rendered":"Alleged DC pipe bomber trial set for February: Judge"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/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%2Falleged-dc-pipe-bomber-trial-set-for-february-judge%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=2626861&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>A Virginia man, Brian Cole Jr., charged with planting pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021, is scheduled for a jury trial in February 2027. Cole, who has pleaded not guilty, appeared at a status hearing, just days after a judge denied his request to dismiss the case, ruling that a presidential pardon dose not apply since he was not convicted when it was issued. The judge also rejected Cole\u2019s argument that a presidential directive to dismiss Jan. 6 related charges mandated prosecutors to drop his case. Cole&#8217;s legal team and family expressed disappointment over the decision,highlighting his diagnosed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/father-considers-lawsuit-against-gender-clinic-for-affirming-9-year-old-autistic-son-as-transgender-lesbian\/\" title=\"Father Considers Lawsuit Against Gender Clinic For Affirming 9-Year-Old Autistic Son As Transgender Lesbian\">autism spectrum disorder<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-the-military-sets-new-regulations-for-transgender-service-members-these-physical-and-mental-conditions-will-still-disqualify-you-from-enlisting\/\" title=\"After The Military Sets New Regulations For Transgender Service Members, These Physical And Mental Conditions Will Still Disqualify You From Enlisting\">obsessive-compulsive disorder<\/a>. Arrested in December 2024, Cole was linked to the unsolved pipe bomb case through cellphone evidence and surveillance footage, and faced multiple charges including terrorism and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. The case underscores ongoing investigations into January 6-related violence and attempted attacks, with prosecutors connecting Cole to the incident through extensive evidence.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a> man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-party\/\">Republican<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-national-committee\/\">Democratic National Committees<\/a> on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot is scheduled to stand trial in February after a federal judge set a two-week jury trial during a hearing on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. District Judge Amir Ali scheduled jury selection to begin the week of Feb. 15, 2027, with the trial expected to last approximately two weeks. Brian Cole Jr., 30, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, appeared in court Wednesday for a status hearing.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4640909\/doj-inmate-tablet-california-prison-pornography-scandal\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ announces \u2018inmate tablets\u2019 despite California prison pornography scandal<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4640686\/appeals-court-restore-trump-kennedy-center\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Appeals court declines to restore Trump\u2019s name on Kennedy Center<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4640828\/trump-ordered-pay-5-8-million-e-jean-carroll-judge-rejects-request-delay-payout\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump ordered to pay $5.8 million to E. Jean Carroll as judge rejects request to delay payout<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">This courtroom sketch depicts 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.<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-image-caption=&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This courtroom sketch depicts 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)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP25339720068249.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This courtroom sketch depicts 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The scheduling comes two days after Ali rejected Cole\u2019s effort to have the case dismissed, ruling that President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s mass pardon for Jan. 6 defendants does not apply to him.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.288125\/gov.uscourts.dcd.288125.82.0_1.pdf\">three-page opinion<\/a> issued Monday, Ali, who was appointed by former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"471\">Joe Biden<\/a>, concluded that the pardon was expressly limited to people who had already been convicted of offenses related to the Jan. 6 attack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEven assuming that the conduct Cole is charged with is \u2018related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,\u2019 the pardon is expressly limited to people who had been \u2018convicted of offenses\u2019 related to those events,\u201d Ali wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The judge noted that Cole \u201chad not been convicted of the conduct at issue when the President issued the pardon; indeed, he was not charged until many months after the President\u2019s proclamation.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ali also rejected Cole\u2019s alternative argument that Trump\u2019s directive instructing the attorney general to seek dismissal of pending Jan. 6-related indictments required prosecutors to drop the charges against him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut this argument does not work either,\u201d Ali wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cole\u2019s attorneys had argued there was \u201cno serious dispute\u201d that his alleged conduct was \u201cinextricably and demonstrably tethered\u201d to the Jan. 6 events and therefore fell within the scope of Trump\u2019s pardon.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The defendant\u2019s mother, Delicia Cole, spoke outside the courtroom on Wednesday and said, \u201cMonday\u2019s decision was very heartbreaking.\u201d She added that it \u201cfeels largely adopted on the government\u2019s position, with little or additional explanation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe can\u2019t help but to question how the government can continue to change its position\u2026 one interpretation no longer fits, another seems to take its place,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cole is being held in Washington, D.C., jail without bond after previously attempting to remain at his grandmother\u2019s home on house arrest. His attorneys have presented documentation showing he has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, in part as their explanation for why he compulsively factory reset his phone more than 900 times from December 2020 to the day he was arrested.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Federal authorities arrested Cole at his Woodbridge, Virginia, home last December after investigators said evidence tied him to the unsolved pipe bomb case. According to the criminal complaint, cellphone data also showed Cole\u2019s phone connected to towers near both party headquarters on the evening of Jan. 5, 2021.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cole was initially charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials. Those <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >charges carry maximum prison sentences<\/a> of 10 years and 20 years, respectively. In April, he was hit with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4529986\/january-5-pipe-bomb-suspect-terrorism-weapon-of-mass-destruction-charges\/\">terrorism charges<\/a> of acting with the intent to influence government policy and intimidate civilians, as well as attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The FBI has alleged Cole planted improvised explosive devices outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters on the evening of Jan. 5, 2021, one day before thousands of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. The bombs, which did not detonate, were discovered and safely removed, while investigators have said the bombs were still \u201cviable.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case remained one of the bureau\u2019s longest-running Jan. 6-related investigations before Cole\u2019s arrest. Months after the attack, the FBI released surveillance footage showing a masked suspect walking near the two party offices between approximately 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., the time investigators believe the devices were planted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4512735\/fbi-investigated-former-capitol-police-officer-jan-6-pipe-bomb-case\/\"><strong>FBI INVESTIGATED FORMER CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER IN JAN. 6 PIPE BOMB CASE, FILINGS SAY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro has said a close examination of evidence the government already had ultimately led investigators to Cole\u2019s arrest. Prosecutors contend the evidence, combined with cellphone location data and other investigative findings, links him to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-fbi-foils-los-angeles-terror-plot-4-pro-palestinian-suspects-jailed\/\" title=\"BREAKING: ... Foils Los Angeles Terror Plot \u2013 4 Pro-Palestinian Suspects Jailed\">alleged bombing plot<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case is being prosecuted by Jocelyn Ballantine, who worked at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> under former Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/merrick-garland\/\">Merrick Garland<\/a> and prosecuted dozens of Jan. 6 cases, all of which have since been overruled thanks to Trump\u2019s sweeping pardons and clemency actions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virginia man to face Feb. trial for Jan. 6 pipe bombs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2626862,"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],"tags":[50501,10338,68340,4853],"class_list":["post-2626861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-dc-2","tag-february","tag-pipe-bomber","tag-trial"],"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\/2626861","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=2626861"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626861\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2626865,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626861\/revisions\/2626865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2626862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2626861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2626861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2626861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}