Judge Rules Trump's Jan. 6 Pardons Exclude D.C. Pipe Bomber
WHO:
AP News - U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali ruled on the case against Brian J. Cole Jr.
AP News - Cole's attorneys argued that he qualifies for a pardon based on the connection of his actions to the January 6 events.
AP News - President Donald Trump issued pardons for supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
AP News - Brian J. Cole Jr. is the Virginia man charged with planting pipe bombs near the national headquarters of the Democratic and Republican parties.
AP News - U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled on the case.
AP News - Trump was in his second term in the White House when he issued the pardons.
AP News - Cole's attorneys argued for his eligibility for a pardon.
WHAT:
AP News - Judge Ali's ruling stated that Trump's pardons were "expressly limited" to individuals who had been convicted of crimes related to the January 6 attack.
AP News - Cole is due back in court for a status hearing on Wednesday.
AP News - U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali stated in his ruling that Cole had not been charged, let alone convicted, when Trump issued the pardons.
AP News - Judge Ali's three-page order concluded that Trump's pardons were "expressly limited" to individuals who had been convicted of crimes related to the January 6 attack.
AP News - Cole's attorneys argued that his alleged actions are “inextricably and demonstrably tethered” to the events near the Capitol on January 6.
AP News - Prosecutors countered that the Department of Justice's interpretation of the pardon is entitled to deference as a reasonable interpretation taken by the Executive Branch agency.
AP News - A federal judge ruled that Trump's pardons do not apply to Cole, as they were "expressly limited" to those convicted of crimes related to the January 6 attack.
AP News - Cole is accused of placing two pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee headquarters.
AP News - The devices did not detonate and were discovered by law enforcement on January 6.
AP News - Cole confessed to FBI agents that he felt “bewildered” by conspiracy theories related to the 2020 presidential election.
WHERE:
AP News - The pipe bombs were planted outside the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.
AP News - The ruling was made in a federal court in Washington, D.C.
WHEN:
AP News - Trump issued the pardons on January 20, 2025.
AP News - Cole was arrested nearly a year after the pardons were issued.
AP News - Cole is due back in court for a status hearing on Wednesday.
WHY:
AP News - Cole's attorneys argued that his actions were “inextricably and demonstrably tethered” to the events of January 6.
AP News - Prosecutors contended that Trump's pardons apply only to individuals who had been convicted or had pending indictments for Capitol riot-related crimes.
HOW:
CNN - The FBI arrested Cole in December at his home, where he lived with his parents.
CNN - Cole pleaded not guilty in January to federal charges of transporting and attempting to use explosives.
CBS News Politics - The FBI alleges that Cole compiled bomb-making supplies for months before leaving the viable explosive devices outside of the political offices.
CNN - Investigators linked Cole’s phone data to cell towers around Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, matching calls and texts to security footage timestamps showing his movements when he planted the devices.
AP News - Investigators identified Cole as a suspect using phone records and other evidence.
AP News - Cole's confession to FBI agents was part of the evidence against him.
(UPDATED July 7, 2026 13:42 UTC)
U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali has ruled on the case against Brian J. Cole Jr., stating that President Trump's pardons were "expressly limited" to individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6 attack. Cole's attorneys argued that he qualifies for a pardon due to the connection of his actions to those events, but he is set to return to court for a status hearing on Wednesday. Cole was arrested by the FBI in December at his home, where he lived with his parents, and he pleaded not guilty in January to federal charges of transporting and attempting to use explosives.
--
(UPDATED July 7, 2026 04:20 UTC)
A U.S. District Judge has ruled that Trump’s pardons were specifically limited to individuals who had been convicted of crimes related to the January 6 attack, noting that Cole had not been charged or convicted when the pardons were issued. Cole's attorneys argue that his alleged actions are closely connected to the events at the Capitol, while prosecutors maintain that the Department of Justice's interpretation of the pardon should be respected as a reasonable stance from the Executive Branch. The FBI claims that Cole gathered bomb-making supplies for months and linked his phone data to cell towers near Capitol Hill, corroborating his movements with security footage from the time he allegedly planted the devices.
--
(UPDATED July 7, 2026 01:37 UTC)
President Trump has issued pardons for supporters involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, but a federal judge has ruled that these pardons do not extend to Brian J. Cole Jr., who is charged with planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C. Cole's attorneys argued that his actions were closely linked to the events of January 6, while prosecutors maintained that Trump's pardons only apply to those convicted of related crimes. Cole, who confessed to feeling bewildered by conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election, is scheduled to return to court for a status hearing on Wednesday.