A federal judge has declined to order the pretrial release of a man accused of placing two pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Headquarters on the eve of a mob attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Washington– A federal judge has declined to order the pretrial release of a man accused of placing two pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Headquarters on the eve of the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled Thursday Brian J Cole Jr He must remain in prison awaiting trial. Ali upheld the decision of U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sherbaugh, who ruled on January 2 that no conditions of release could reasonably protect the public from the danger Cole allegedly posed.
Cole, 30, pleaded not guilty to making and planting two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., on the night of January 5, 2021.
Cole, who lived with his parents in Woodbridge, Virginia, was diagnosed with autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder. His lawyers say he has no criminal record.
Cole has remained imprisoned since his arrest on December 4. Authorities said they used phone records and other evidence to identify him as a suspect in a crime that has confounded the FBI for more than four years.
Prosecutors said Cole admitted to attempting to carry out an “extraordinary act of political violence.” Cole’s investigators said he was dissatisfied with the way leaders of both political parties responded to “questions” about the 2020 presidential election — and said “something just happened,” according to prosecutors.
“Although the defendant had reached his psychological breaking point, his crimes were not at all reckless.” They wrote. “Indeed, the pipe bombs planted by the defendant – and the fear and terror they instilled in the general public – were the product of weeks of premeditation and planning.”
Defense attorneys requested that Cole be released from prison and placed on home confinement under electronic monitoring. They say a The defense expert concluded The devices found near the RNC and DNC headquarters were not explosive devices.
“In fact, there was no possibility of death, injury or destruction because the devices were harmless.” They wrote.
If convicted of the two counts against him, Cole faces up to 10 years in prison on one count and up to 20 years in prison on a second count that also carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years.