FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday criticized the bureau’s previous handling of the long-running investigation into the 2021 DNC and RNC pipe bomb case, calling it “sheer incompetence or complete intentional negligence” under the Biden administration. His remarks followed the arrest of Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Va., who is accused of placing the pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican headquarters on Jan. 5, 2021, the night before the Capitol riot. Cole is expected to make his first court appearance in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Patel said the prior administration “sat on the evidence for four years,” producing no meaningful progress.
Patel explained that once he took charge, he and Deputy Director Dan Bongino re-examined “every single piece of evidence,” including millions of lines of data, bank records, cellphone tower dumps, and provider information from earlier search warrants. He said the team uncovered major investigative gaps, such as unreviewed phone numbers and missing geolocation analyses, which he described as unacceptable lapses. According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators ultimately connected Cole to the manufacture and placement of the devices through financial and cellphone evidence dating back to 2019.
Bongino, who had previously suggested the bomb plot might involve “a connected anti-Trump insider” or “an inside job,” appeared earlier on Fox News to address past comments. Now serving as deputy FBI director, he emphasized that the current investigation is guided strictly by facts, not opinion. He said they are “pretty comfortable” that Cole is the suspect and that the public will gain confidence as more information becomes available.