US Capitol Police officers stand outside the US Capitol building in Washington, US, January 6, 2023. © REUTERS/Leah Millis
(Washington, DC) – Come January 6, 2021 it will be five years since the storming of the Capitol — in which angered supporters of President Trump and some cadre of federal agents took part in a protest that turned violent and chaotic. Now, an arrest has finally been made in a key subplot of those events — as a Virginia man has been arrested for allegedly leaving a pipe bomb near the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters — in Washington, DC.
Reports have identified the suspect as Brian Cole. CNBC says the man is linked to statements in support of a pro-anarchist group.
The FBI has described the bombs as “viable” and completely capable of either injuring or even killing people. There was no detonation, although it certainly added to the chaotic, threatening, and violent nature of the day. Reports have described the devices as having been constructed with homemade black powder, packed into 1×8-inch threaded, galvanized pipes. They had a kitchen timer attached, as well.
This follows a report from The Blaze this year that had incorrectly suggested a different woman was a person if interest in the case. And, in October, the FBI put out new surveillance video of whoever posted the bombs — while offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
In that footage, a person is wearing a face mask, glasses, gray-hoodie, gloves, and a backpack — that agents say was used to carry the bombs. In January lawmakers criticized federal agents’ inability to identify a suspect. Around that time, agents said they’d visited over 1,200 homes and businesses — with more than 1,000 people interviewed, 39,000 video files reviewed, and 600 tips processed.
Last month, FBI deputy director Dan Bongino said “aggressively pursue a new strategy” regarding the pipebomb case was one of his top priorities. And in November of last year he said: “There is a massive cover up because the person who planted those pipe bombs, they don’t want you to know who it was because it’s either a connected anti-Trump insider or this was an inside job.” That is after reports emerged of dozens of agents working undercover or as informants during the events of January 6, 2021.
On that say, the RNC device was discovered first. At the DNC, then Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was inside at the time of the discovery.
