Overview
- Brian Cole Jr., who was arraigned Wednesday, entered a not guilty plea to newly added counts of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and committing an act of terrorism while armed.
- Prosecutors asked the judge to hold the defense in contempt for a public filing that pushed a debunked claim about a former Capitol Police officer, and the judge warned both sides about future disclosures.
- Following the plea, the court turned to scheduling as defense lawyers proposed a December trial date and prosecutors said they were not ready to proceed that soon.
- The case returns to court on May 29 for a follow-up hearing, with the expanded indictment now exposing Cole to a possible life term if convicted on the top charge.
- Prosecutors say Cole planted two backpack bombs outside the DNC and RNC that did not detonate and cite an interview they say includes an admission, while the defense notes autism and OCD diagnoses and is pressing a pending motion claiming coverage under President Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons.