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Virginia Man Pleads Not Guilty to Planting Pipe Bombs

1/11/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Brian J. Cole Jr., a Virginia man, pleaded not guilty to two explosives counts for planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican national party headquarters on January 6, 2021.
Cole confessed to placing the explosives, saying he sought to create news for supporters who believed the 2020 election was stolen.
The potential sentence totals up to 30 years in prison.

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Story summary

Brian J. Cole Jr., a Virginia man, pleaded not guilty to two explosives counts for planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican national party headquarters on January 6, 2021.
Cole confessed to placing the explosives, saying he sought to create news for supporters who believed the 2020 election was stolen.
The potential sentence totals up to 30 years in prison.