FBI officials say J6 pipe bomb case cracked after it languished under Biden admin

Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Thursday the arrest of a suspect in the Jan. 6 pipe bomb case after it languished for years under the Biden administration, crediting a fresh look at the case and a new team for the breakthrough.  

“Today’s arrests happened because the Trump administration made it a priority,” Bondi said at a press conference. “The cold case languished for years, until Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino came to the FBI.” 

She said that no new evidence was uncovered, but that a fresh review of the case spearheaded by Bongino breathed new life into the case.

The suspect, who was named as Brian Cole Jr., will be charged with the use of explosive devices, which Director Patel said put in danger innocent civilians and government officials. 

The officials noted that the investigation is still ongoing and investigators have not announced a motive.  

In May, Bongino announced that the FBI would be taking a fresh look at the bureau’s biggest unsolved mysteries, which included the pipe bomb case, which had remained unsolved even after hours of footage, a forensic analysis of the bombs, and an ongoing congressional investigation. 

Last month, Patel hinted at "significant breakthroughs” but declined to provide any further details at the time.