Federal officials addressed Cole’s arrest at a press conference Thursday afternoon, confirming that that he is being charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and malicious destruction by means of explosion. “This investigation is ongoing. As we speak, search warrants are being executed and there could be more charges to come,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
Bondi took a notably partisan tone during the press conference, alleging that the pipe-bomb investigation languished under the Biden administration with no progress until FBI director Kash Patel and deputy FBI director Dan Bongino joined the agency.
Patel and Bongino joined Bondi in her victory lap, applauding their team’s work while pointing the finger at their predecessors. The FBI director said the agency brought in a new team of investigators who pored over the existing evidence and data, which Patel said was “something that the prior administration refused and failed to do.”
“As a result of that, we generated numerous investigative leads, executed multiple legal processes with our U.S. Attorney partners, and came to this conclusion today. And that is why we were able to safely secure this individual into custody,” Patel said.
But the highly anticipated press conference was surprisingly light on new details, as officials declined to answer reporters’ questions about what led them to Cole, citing the ongoing investigation. Bondi reiterated that his arrest wasn’t the result of new information.
“Let me be clear: There was no new tip. There was no new witness. Just good, diligent police work and prosecutorial work, working as a team along with ATF, Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and, of course, the FBI,” she said.
