By Jana Winter
WASHINGTON, Jan 2 (Reuters) – A federal judge on Friday ordered that the man accused of planting pipe bombs in Washington the night before the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack should remain behind bars while his case moves forward.
U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Brian Cole, 30, to be held without bail as he faces two criminal charges related to the attempted bombings of the Democratic and Republican party headquarters. Cole, who faces two explosives-related charges, has not yet entered a plea.
Federal prosecutors have said in a court filing that Cole confessed to planting the pipe bombs and told investigators after his arrest he thought the 2020 election had been “tampered with.” President Donald Trump had falsely claimed that the election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, was marred by fraud.
According to the filing, Cole said he didn’t like either political party.
The pipe bombs were not discovered until about 1 p.m. on January 6, diverting police resources just as a mob of Trump supporters surged into the Capitol.
(Reporting by Jana Winter; editing by Scott Malone)
