The FBI on Thursday arrested a suspect who investigators said planted pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic parties' headquarters in Washington, D.C., the night before the 2021 Capitol riot.
Why it matters: The nearly 5-year investigation was a high-profile, unsolved case.
- The suspect was identified by Trump administration officials in a Thursday afternoon news conference as 30-year-old Brian Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia.
- He was charged with use of an explosive device, Attorney General Pam Bondi said. If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. More charges could follow.
Zoom in: No new tips, witnesses or evidence prompted Thursday's arrest, Bondi said.
- "This cold case languished for four years," she said, criticizing a lack of progress on the case under the Biden administration.
Catch up quick: The bombs did not detonate, but the FBI called them "viable" and said they could have injured or killed bystanders.
- Existing footage of the suspect showed a person wearing a face mask, glasses, a gray hooded sweatshirt and gloves, using a backpack to transport the bombs.
- A Republican-led congressional panel in January criticized the FBI's previous failure to identify the suspect.
- As of January, the FBI had visited more than 1,200 residences and businesses, conducted more than 1,000 interviews, reviewed about 39,000 video files and assessed more than 600 tips in the case.
Driving the news: According to bank and credit card records reviewed by the FBI, Cole purchased items consistent with the components used to manufacture pipe bombs in 2019 and 2020, per a court filling.
- His cell phone was tracked near the RNC and DNC when the bombs were left on Jan. 5, 2021, per phone and cell tower records.
Behind the scenes: FBI deputy director Dan Bongino, who previously spread conspiracy theories about the situation, said last month that one of his first initiatives was to "aggressively pursue a new strategy" to investigate the threat.
- "There is a massive cover up because the person who planted those pipe bombs, they don't want you to know who it was because it's either a connected anti-Trump insider or this was an inside job," Bongino said in November 2024.
Zoom in: The pipe bombs were discovered on Jan. 6. The RNC explosive was discovered first.
- The DNC device was discovered while then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was inside the building.
Go deeper: FBI shares new details of suspect in D.C. pipe bombs plant on Jan. 6 eve
Editor's note: This story has been updated with details throughout.
