Overview
- Defense attorney Mario Williams says he will soon ask the court to apply President Trump’s broad Jan. 6 clemency to Brian Cole Jr.’s case.
- Williams argues the allegations fit the pardon’s scope because the devices were placed on Jan. 5 and discovered on Jan. 6 near party headquarters in Washington.
- Prosecutors contend Cole confessed after his arrest, detailing how he built and placed the two devices and saying he hoped they would detonate and attract news coverage.
- Investigators cite credit card records, cellphone tower data, a license plate reader, and surveillance evidence to tie Cole to the devices found and rendered safe.
- Cole has pleaded not guilty and remains detained, with a Jan. 28 hearing set to reconsider release; the Justice Department has not publicly said whether the clemency applies.