Barry Loudermilk confirms pipe bomb suspect confessed to planting devices near DNC, RNC headquarters

Georgia GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk confirmed to Just The News on Friday that the Virginia man accused of planting two pipe bombs near the U.S. Capitol the day before the Jan. 6, 2021, riot told investigators that he planted them.

The suspect, 30-year-old Brian Cole Jr., allegedly said he planted the bombs at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee in a four-hour interview as part of a multi-agency probe led by the FBI.

Loudermilk, who is leading the House Judiciary Committee's Select Subcommittee on the January 6th Investigation, said he had a briefing with the FBI earlier Friday and that although they were not comfortable giving a motive for planting the pipe bombs, they confirmed that the suspect has allegedly confessed to planting them.

"You do have the guy who apparently has confessed to doing it," Loudermilk said on the "Just The News, No Noise" TV show. "Now you have got the first-person source that we haven't had in five years. You need to really question him. You need to take the forensic evidence you have from him, his cell phone. 

"One of the things that I have asked over the years is, who was the gray hoodie person, which we now know is this Brian Cole. Who is he communicating with?" Loudermilk continued. "The video shows him being on the phone with people. Who is he communicating with? Did he have co-conspirators? This is something now that the FBI, you know, they know who it is and they'll be able to track down who he's talking to and then start talking to other people."

The congressman said he was not given additional information on the confession because the investigation into the pipe bombs was still ongoing. 

According to an FBI affidavit, investigators identified Cole as a suspect through analysis of credit card charges related to the purchase of pipe bomb components, cellphone towers and a license plate reader.

Cole was charged on Thursday with placing a pipe bomb and the use of an explosive device, but has not entered a plea so far. He is due back in court on Dec. 15 for a detention hearing. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.