Brian Cole Jr. claims Trump pardon shields him from Capitol pipe-bomb charges

Brian Cole Jr. has filed a motion to dismiss federal charges that he planted pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021.

“The Virginia man accused of planting two pipe bombs in Washington, DC, the night before the 2021 US Capitol riot asked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss his case, arguing that President Donald Trump’s expansive pardon of January 6 rioters applies to him”

CNN

He argues that he is protected under President Trump's sweeping pardon for January 6-related offenses.

CNN

Cole was arrested in December 2025 and pleaded not guilty to charges of transporting and attempting to use explosives.

Prosecutors allege that Cole compiled bomb-making supplies for months before leaving the viable explosive devices outside the political offices.

The discovery of the bombs diverted law enforcement resources from the Capitol riot violence the following day.

The case represents a significant test of the expansive interpretation of Trump's pardon language.

Cole's legal team, led by attorneys Mario Williams and John Shoreman, argues that Trump's pardon language 'unequivocally' covers their client despite the fact that Cole has not been convicted of any offense yet.

They contend that applying 'the ordinary and plain meaning of the Pardon's language as applied to the relevant facts in this case' demonstrates that pardon applies to Cole.

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The lawyers argue that Cole's alleged conduct is 'inextricably tethered to the events at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.'

They note that some individuals whose convictions were wiped out by Trump's pardon were accused of taking actions before January 6 that fueled the violence that day.

Cole maintains his innocence and disputes the government's allegations.

He claims the alleged devices could never have exploded.

A White House official dismissed Cole's argument, stating that 'The pipe bombs were placed on Jan 5' and that 'the pardon pertained to events at or near the Capitol on Jan 6 and clearly does not cover this scenario.'

“(CNN) —The Virginia manaccused of planting two pipe bombsin Washington, DC, the night before the2021 US Capitol riotasked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss his case, arguing that President Donald Trump’s expansive pardon of January 6 rioters applies to him”

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This counter-argument highlights the temporal distinction between Cole's alleged actions on January 5 and the Capitol riot events on January 6.

The Trump administration has faced criticism for seeking to expand the reach of Trump's January 6 clemency to cover crimes with little connection to the Capitol riot.

The administration maintains that the pardon was intended for those 'treated unfairly when charged with committing crimes on Jan 6 ranging from trespassing to committing grievous assaults on police officers.'

This suggests a more limited scope than Cole's legal team is arguing.

Brian Cole Jr. was arrested at his home where he lived with his parents in December 2025.

His legal team describes him as an individual with autism who follows a strict routine and has been entirely peaceful.

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The FBI conducted a yearslong investigation before making the arrest.

Cole reportedly told the FBI that he believed the 2020 election was stolen during interviews.

Prosecutors presented evidence linking Cole to cell towers around Washington, DC's Capitol Hill neighborhood.

His phone data matched security footage timestamps showing how the bomber moved on the evening of the alleged planting.

Trump issued 'a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021' on his first day in office in January 2025.

“The Virginia man accused of planting two pipe bombs in Washington, DC, the night before the 2021 US Capitol riot asked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss his case, arguing that President Donald Trump’s expansive pardon of January 6 rioters applies to him”

CNN

This pardon effectively ended a sweeping four-year Justice Department probe into January 6-related offenses.

CNN

The pardon marked a significant departure from traditional presidential clemency practices.

Cole's case represents an unprecedented test of how far the administration will extend the pardon's reach.

The outcome could have implications for future presidential use of clemency powers.

It raises questions about whether broad pardons can cover activities in close temporal proximity to but technically outside specified events.