George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Thursday he found comments by federal officials that the case against the man accused of setting pipe bombs in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2021, involved no new evidence “fascinating.”
The Department of Justice announced the arrest of Brian Cole on Thursday on charges of transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials. Turley told “America Reports” co-hosts Sandra Smith and John Roberts that the Trump administration was being “very cautious and very deliberative” with the case.
“I thought the most fascinating aspect of the press conference was the statement that this was a case built from old bricks, that they didn’t find anything new, and that is really – the key was there all along, and it was simply overlooked,” Turley said. “We’ll see if that bears out. It would be an indictment obviously of the prior administration if that were to be true. You have to commend this administration. They pledged they were going to run this guy down. They believe they have done so.”
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During a press conference announcing Cole’s arrest, Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters that the case was cracked without any new tips or witnesses coming forward. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced that the pipe bomb case was one of several Biden administration-era cases that the agency would review in May.
“They are to be commended, as frustrating as it is for all of us, to be very cautious,” Turley said. “You know, they brought the correct charge here in the use of an explosive device in interstate commerce, that gives you the federal footprint that you need. It’s a placeholder.” They’re gonna bring more charges. But what you want to do, you want to start with the modest, clearly established crime in your view. There’s no rush and then you want to add charges as your evidence comes in. They’re being very cautious and very deliberative and that makes the most powerful case that you can bring.”
Roberts asked Turley if there might be other charges forthcoming in the case.
“I promise you, they’re going to pile on these charges, everything short of ripping a label off a mattress,” Turley responded. “Anything that they can pile on this guy they’re going to. I mean, this is the type of case where the Department of Justice truly believes in overkill. They’re going to pile on those charges as long as they have a basis for it. The most obvious charge was being alluded to in the press conference, that you had various speakers referring to how he terrorized the city, caused terror among the citizens.”
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