DC pipe bomb suspect pleads not guilty to federal charges
Source: CNN Politics
PUBLISHED Jan 9, 2026, 3:20 PM ET
The Virginia man accused of planting two bombs in Washington, DC, five years ago pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges of transporting and attempting to use explosives.
The DC federal court arraignment for the man, Brian J. Cole Jr., took place over a month after Cole was initially charged, in part because a grand jury wasn’t in court over the holidays to hear the case.
When asked how he would like to plead to the charges, Cole leaned forward to the microphone in front of him and said, “not guilty.”
Cole’s attorney argues the alleged devices could never have exploded and say their client has been entirely peaceful and follows a strict routine due to his diagnoses, which include autism. Cole has been detained since his arrest, though his attorneys are attempting to have the federal judge assigned to the case review the magistrate judge’s decision to keep Cole behind bars. His next hearing is scheduled for January 28.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/politics/pipe-bomb-suspect-brian-cole-arraignment