In December of 2025, the FBI identified the alleged pipe bomber and conducted a search on his home, and arrested Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, after a “fresh review” of old evidence. The FBI claimed they found evidence during the search that suggested Cole Jr. was the person responsible for placing the inert devices at the RNC and DNC Headquarters on the evening of January 5, 2021.
Following his arrest, Cole, who is said to be autistic, sought bail in January 2026, but was denied by U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian Sharbaugh after Cole admitted to planting the bombs after hours of intense interrogation; however, he has pleaded not guilty to the two charges related to planting the explosive devices.
In November of 2025, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer, who now works for the Central Intelligence Agency, was identified as the alleged pipe-bomber by The Blaze’s Steve Baker. However, according to CBS News, the former USCP officer had an alibi: a video of her at home playing with her puppies that night.
In a new filing from Cole’s attorneys today, a new detail has emerged that wasn’t previously reported.
In a Motion filed this morning, it was learned that, “according to discovery produced by the government in this case,” “the FBI began investigating, questioning, and covertly surveilling” Kerkhoff “during the time it began investigating Mr. Cole.”
On November 6, 2025, Kerkhoff was interviewed by the FBI and took a polygraph examination.
Hellbound and Down 