Justice Dept. Rejects Claim That Trump’s Jan. 6 Pardons Shield D.C. Pipe Bomb Suspect

Brian Cole Jr., accused of planting viable pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021—the night before the Capitol riot—cannot claim protection under former President Donald Trump’s January 6 pardons, the Justice Department argued in court filings last week.

Cole’s defense team tried to have charges dismissed, asserting that his actions were “inextricably and demonstrably tethered” to the Jan. 6 events and thus covered by Trump’s pardon proclamation. They leaned heavily on Cole’s own FBI interview, where he admitted traveling to D.C. for a protest linked to the same political controversy that fueled the Capitol mob.

But prosecutors were quick to reject this expansive interpretation. The pardon order explicitly limits relief to individuals convicted of or indicted for offenses related to events “at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.” Cole’s alleged bomb-planting on January 5 falls outside that boundary. The Justice Department pointed out that when Trump issued the pardons on January 20, 2025, Cole had not yet been identified or charged, and the investigation into the pipe bombs was ongoing.

The government also highlighted Cole’s own words from the FBI interview, where he admitted planting the bombs and denied any direct connection to Congress or the official January 6 proceedings. He described his motivation as frustration with both political parties, saying “something just snapped” after watching “everything getting worse.”

This case exposes the limits of Trump’s Jan. 6 pardon spree, which wiped away convictions for roughly 1,500 rioters but drew a line at conduct not directly tied to the Capitol riot itself. The Justice Department’s firm stance sends a clear message that violent acts surrounding January 6 will not be swept under the pardon rug, especially those involving explosives.

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali has yet to schedule a hearing on Cole’s motion, with a status conference set for April 21. But for now, the Justice Department is standing its ground against attempts to extend Trump’s controversial pardons to dangerous acts that preceded the Capitol attack. This fight underscores the ongoing struggle to hold accountable those who threatened democracy with violence during this dark chapter.