No new tips led to this arrest.
Agents worked through millions of lines of data and hundreds of thousands of pieces of evidence (such as combing through the sales of each individual component of the bombs) to find the thread that connected the pipe bombs to Brian Cole.
The political spin will be that the Biden Admin, Garland DOJ, and Wray FBI just didn't want to solve the case.
And the conspiracy spin will be that it's a cover-up and/or that Cole is a patsy, or similar.
Both spins are nonsense and false.
The truth is damn good investigators did damn good investigative work.
They redeveloped the investigation from square one, reexamined the evidence they had with fresh eyes and with renewed support from leadership, and pursued the leads right to Cole's front door.
I VOTED FOR THIS.
Affidavit in support of criminal complaint against Brian J. Cole, Jr..
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Cole is 30yrs old, 5' 6", wears glasses, and lives with his parents in Woodbridge, VA.
He is employed at his father's bail bonds company.
Cole purchased the components he used to make the pipe bombs at various times in 2019 and 2020.
The FBI was able to identify the date and location of each purchase for each component and the tools he used in manufacturing them. Phenomenal police work.
Cole CONTINUED to make purchases of components consistent with making MORE BOMBS AFTER January 5, 2021.
The FBI sorted through cell provider data and identified Cole's cell phone as having been in the vicinity of the DNC and RNC on January 5, 2021.
Specifically, they identified seven connections between five towers with Cole's cell phone on the relevant date and times.
Cole's vehicle was captured on a license plate reader on January 5, 2021, at 7:10pm "less than one-half mile from the location where the individual who placed the devices was first observed on foot..."
His cell phone also hit off a tower minutes later.
Ha, they know what restaurant he ate at in DC on December 14, 2020.
I wonder if he dined alone?
Cole is currently charged with violating 18 USC 844(d) and 18 USC 844(i).
The charges carry penalties of any number of years in prison, life in prison, or death.
More charges are expected.
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