DC pipe bomb suspect faces two new felony charges in indictment

Alleged pipe bomber Brian Cole Jr. has been charged with two new felonies in connection to the incident, according to federal indictments that were made public Wednesday.

Cole has been accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters in 2021. He was arrested by federal authorities in December following a probe that lasted nearly five years. Cole has now been charged with attempting to use weapons of mass destruction and committing an act of terrorism while armed. He was previously charged with placing a pipe bomb and use of an explosive device and pleaded not guilty. 

He has not yet been arraigned on the new charges so far, according to The Hill. 

The development comes after Cole argued his case should be dismissed because of President Donald Trump's pardons for January 6 defendants, but the Justice Department claimed the pardons only pertained to people who were "‘convicted of,’ or had a ‘pending indictment’ for, offenses related to the events at or near the United States Capitol on January 6."

Cole is due back in court next week for a hearing on the status of his case.

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