Brian Cole a Day Early a Dollar Short

 Brian Cole, who allegedly placed explosives  at or near the Democrat AND Replublican Headquarters in DC's downtown area on January 5th, is not able to cash in his J6 get out of jail free card for his alleged actions. President Trump's sweeping pardons only covered anti government actions like pooping in the Capitol, Tresppassing, Theft, and of course assaulting Police Officers if the actions occurred ON January 6th. The devil is in the details, my friend. Backstory:

The story of Brian Cole's alleged detour into Washington D.C. on January 5, 2021, plays out like a spy thriller directed by someone who accidentally swapped the script with a Home Depot shopping list and had an accident that dropped their IQ by 40 points.

After nearly five years, investigators finally "solved" the mystery in late 2025. There were all kinds of fun accusations and conspiracy theories laid to rest. Here is a summary of the events that led to his current legal issues

On the evening of January 5th, Cole reportedly decided that the best way to spend his Tuesday night was to drive his Nissan Sentra from Woodbridge, Virginia, into the heart of D.C. He opted for the Classic J6 Starter Kit Outfit of a grey hoodie, a face mask, and very distinctive Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes. My years of watching Crime TV reveals that means distinctive footprints, etc.  According to the FBI, he spent about an hour wandering the streets of Capitol Hill like a tourist who had lost their hotel. He was caught on camera taking casual breaks on park benches and strolling through alleys, all while carrying a backpack that definitely wasn't full of souvenir postcards.

Prosecutors allege that Cole’s explosive devices weren't exactly high-tech military hardware. Instead, they were more of a DIY project: He allegedly built the bombs using galvanized pipes and white kitchen-style timers he’d been buying at Home Depot and Lowe’s since 2019. He placed one bomb near the RNC and one near the DNC. They were functional and "viable," but in a stroke of luck for everyone involved, the 60-minute timers he reportedly set failed to actually detonate the devices.

While the masked hoodie-look worked for the cameras for a while, his technology was less cooperative: His cell phone was pinging off towers in the exact vicinity of the RNC and DNC right as the bombs were being placed. His Nissan Sentra was caught by a license plate reader less than a half-mile from the scene. Investigators eventually just looked at his bank statements and found a steady history of "bomb-making-kit" purchases.

In a move that could only happen in 2026, Cole’s defense attorneys are currently arguing that he shouldn't be prosecuted because he was already pardoned. They claim that because President Trump issued a mass pardon for everyone involved in "events at or near the Capitol on January 6," and because his bombs were found on January 6, he counts as a "J6 participant." He’s just an “early” person, not a “late” person!