A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump’s expansive pardon of January 6 protesters does not apply to a Virginia man accused of planting two pipe bombs in Washington, DC, the night before the 2021 US Capitol protests.
Background of the Case
Prosecutors say Brian Cole Jr. placed bombs near the Republican and Democratic national committees’ headquarters on the night of January 5, 2021. His attorneys argued in March that Cole should be covered by Trump’s pardon because the alleged conduct is related to the events at the Capitol on January 6.
On his first day back in office last year, Trump issued a pardon to nearly every person who was convicted of participating in the January 6 protests, marking the end of a sweeping four-year Justice Department probe.
In a three-page order, US District Judge Amir H. Ali, an appointee of President Joe Biden, rejected Cole’s argument that he should be included in that pardon.
Cole is due back in court for a status hearing. When Cole’s lawyers asked the court in March to dismiss the case against him, a White House official disputed the defense team’s argument.
The FBI alleges that Cole compiled bomb-making supplies for months before leaving the viable explosive devices outside of the political offices.
Investigation and Charges
During interviews with the FBI, Cole told investigators that he believed the 2020 election was stolen. Investigators also said they linked Cole’s phone data to cell towers around Washington, DC’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Cole pleaded not guilty in January to federal charges of transporting and attempting to use explosives.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
