Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel arrive for a news conference about an arrest of a suspect in the Jan. 6 pipe bombing case at the Department of Justice Dec. 4, 2025, in Washington, D,C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Court papers unsealed Thursday revealed that bank records showing purchases of pipe bomb material and cell phone tower data were used to identify Cole. The suspect is now in custody facing charges of using explosives, with more charges possible, and he is expected to make his first court appearance Friday.
Surveillance footage released by the FBI showed an unidentified suspect in a hoodie planting two explosive devices near the Republican and Democratic National Committees’ headquarters on the night of Jan. 5, 2021.
Authorities said the devices were "viable" and could have detonated. The first one was discovered by a woman in an alleyway doing her laundry, investigative reports said. She immediately reported her finding to the police, prompting a search that led to the discovery of the second bomb, the reports said.
A congressional report revealed that the FBI during the Biden administration began "diverting resources" away from the investigation at the end of February 2021, after less than two months.
Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, flanked by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, left, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, right, speaks at a news conference about the Jan. 6 pipe bomber at the Department of Justice Dec. 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
At a news conference, Bongino said he made the pipe bomb case a top priority after he told Fox News in May the bureau was "closing in" on suspects.
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"I spoke with Ms. Bondi very early, maybe day two, and I said, ‘We’re going to get this guy.’ She said, ‘Yes, you are.’ And we did," Bongino said Thursday.
"You're not going to walk into our capital city, put down two explosive devices and walk off in the sunset. Not going to happen," Bongino said. "There was no way he was getting away."
Ashley Oliver is a reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business, covering the Justice Department and legal affairs. Email story tips to ashley.oliver@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doj-says-evidence-against-j6-pipe-bomb-suspect-just-sitting-there-five-years