A man suspected of planting pipe bombs near the US Capitol on the night before the January 6 riots has reportedly admitted to leaving the devices. Sources indicate that the individual, motivated by the belief that the 2020 presidential election was illegitimate, confessed his actions to investigators. The accused, Brian Cole Jr., age 30, shared his stance during discussions with authorities, according to information obtained by the Associated Press.

During these interviews, Cole expressed his belief that Donald Trump should have been the rightful victor in the presidential race against Joe Biden. He conveyed his support for Trump in these conversations with FBI officials, offering insight into his mindset at the time of the alleged crime.

This revelation marks the first suggestion of a motive behind the placement of the explosive devices outside the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on January 5, 2021. These findings come after extensive investigative efforts by the FBI, who engaged in prolonged discussions with Cole.

Following his confession, Cole appeared in court on Friday. During the proceedings, the judge ordered that he remain in custody, with his next court appearance scheduled for December 15, where a detention hearing will take place. Notably, Cole did not enter a plea at this initial hearing.

The sources said that FBI investigators spent hours speaking with Cole. He appeared in court on Friday and was ordered to remain in a jail.  

He is due back in court on December 15 for a detention hearing. He did not enter a plea during Friday’s hearing.

Cole’s alleged view would see himself aligned with some inside the MAGA movement including Donald Trump himself who believed the result was stolen from him. 

He is facing charges of transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of fire and explosive materials. 

The arrest marks the first major breakthrough in the five-year investigation that had baffled the agency and sparked a wave of conspiracy theories. 

Officials used credit purchases of bomb-making materials, cellphone tower data and a license plate reader to zero in on Cole, according to an FBI affidavit . 

Cole, pictured here, was identified by the FBI on Thursday as the suspect in the planned attacks on DC

Authorities shared previously unreleased footage of the perp stalking the streets of Washington DC the night before the infamous riots in the weeks before Cole’s arrest

His bank account and credit card showed he bought materials in 2019 and 2020 consistent with those used to make the pipe bombs, according to court papers. 

This included galvanized pipes and white kitchen-style timers, according to the affidavit. The purchases continued even after the devices were placed.

The two explosive devices found at the scenes were each roughly one foot long and packed with gunpowder and metal, according to two law enforcement officials.

He owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra with a Virginia license plate, the affidavit added. The vehicle drove past a license plate reader less than a half mile from where the person who placed the devices was first spotted on foot around 7:34 p.m. that night, the document says.

Cole, who lives in Woodbridge, Virginia, was described as recluse by his neighbors who spoke with CNN. 

According to those who spoke anonymously with the outlet, he was only ever seen walking his pet Chihuahua while wearing headphones. 

They noted that he would take the dog out in all types of weather while wearing shorts and a pair red Crocs. 

The bombs were made of threaded galvanized pipes, kitchen timers and homemade black powder. One of the planted devices is pictured above 

One longtime neighbor also told The New York Post: ‘We would always just comment, “Like, how is he in shorts?” 

‘It’s 20 degrees out in his red Crocs, walking his dog all winter long. We all knew him as the guy that walked the Chihuahua.’

An arrest affidavit released soon after his arrest said that he lived at home with his mother and worked as a bail bondsman.

The calm of the leafy suburb was disturbed on Thursday when two Humvees loaded with SWAT teams in camouflage and carrying rifles raided his home, nabbing Cole. 

Authorities shared previously unreleased footage of the perp stalking the streets of Washington DC the night before the infamous riots. 

The suspect then walked to the nearby DNC headquarters, where a bomb was placed at 7:54pm. 

Police block the street near the house where the FBI arrested Cole, in Woodbridge

This map depicts the approximate route the suspect walked on January 5, 2021, while placing two pipe bombs in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC

Surveillance then showed the suspect walking to the RNC headquarters and placing a bomb at 8:16pm. 

The suspect wore a face mask, glasses, a grey hooded sweatshirt, gloves, and black and light grey Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow logo. 

The explosive devices planted outside the two buildings in the Capitol Hill neighborhood were located the next day. 

Hours later hordes of Donald Trump supporters descended on Washington DC to protest the 2020 election results. 

US Capitol Police and agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called to the RNC’s office at 12.45pm.

About 30 minutes later, as the agents and bomb technicians were still investigating at the RNC, another call came in for a similar explosive device found at the DNC.

The bombs were rendered safe, and no one was hurt.