On a recent broadcast of CNN's "The Lead," anchor Jake Tapper made an incorrect statement regarding the race of a suspect involved in a high-profile criminal case. Tapper referred to Brian Cole Jr., the man arrested in connection to the placement of pipe bombs near major political party headquarters in Washington, D.C., as a white man, despite Cole being black.
Brian Cole Jr., aged 30, was taken into custody at his home in Woodbridge, Virginia, on charges of transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and malicious destruction by means of explosion. During his program, Tapper introduced Cole saying, "Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old white man from the D.C. suburbs, is charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and with malicious destruction by means of explosion."
This misidentification spurred reactions on social media, with some commentators like Benny Johnson and Nick Sortor highlighting the error and accusing CNN of pushing a biased narrative. The incident gained traction as photographs of Cole were made available in news reports and circulated across various social media platforms.
Federal law enforcement officials arrested Cole following an extensive investigation into the events that occurred on January 5, 2021, where it is alleged that Cole planted the explosive devices outside both the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters. The timing of this incident was particularly notable, as it was the night before Congress was scheduled to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The investigation saw renewed attention under the administration of President Donald Trump, with US Attorney Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel announcing the arrest and suggesting that significant evidence had been previously overlooked. The criminal complaint against Cole indicates that he began accumulating materials for bomb-making as early as 2019, purchasing items from various large retailers.
Cole's background includes employment at a bail bond company run by his father, Brian Cole Sr., which notably specialized in securing releases for immigrants detained by ICE. The company, StateWide, had previously taken legal action against the Department of Homeland Security over the treatment of immigrants in detention facilities.
The senior Cole has been involved in legal disputes, including a press conference with attorney Ben Crump calling for an investigation into a prosecutor over discrimination claims. Furthermore, a Tennessee appeals court upheld sanctions against Cole Sr.'s company for misconduct earlier this year.
As the legal process unfolds, this case continues to be a subject of public interest and scrutiny, with implications for both political discourse and national security.
