The Man Behind the Bombs: A Look into the January 6 Mystery

Brian Cole Jr. , a 30-year-old from Woodbridge, Virginia, is in hot water. He's accused of planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican national committees just before the January 6 Capitol riot. Cole's lawyers say he's not a threat and want him released while he awaits trial. They argue that he has no criminal history, is on the autism spectrum, and has obsessive compulsive disorder. Plus, they point out that no one was hurt because the bombs didn't explode. But the justice department isn't convinced. They say Cole confessed after his arrest. When the FBI searched his home, they found bomb-making stuff. His credit card statements also showed purchases of bomb materials. In a video interview, Cole first denied planting the bombs but later admitted it. He said he was in Washington DC to protest the 2020 election results. He claimed he didn't want to hurt anyone and planted the bombs at night for that reason.Cole's motive? He said he was fed up with both political parties. He got the idea for pipe bombs from history, specifically the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He told agents he was "pretty relieved" the bombs didn't go off. His lawyers want any videos or statements from Cole's interrogation released to them. Federal prosecutors want Cole to stay locked up. They say he's a danger to the community and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Cole's arrest is a big deal because the case had been unsolved for years, sparking many conspiracy theories.