THIS IS CNN: Jake Tapper falsely claims black J6 pipe bomb suspect is ‘white man’

"Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old white man from the DC suburbs, is charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and with malicious destruction by means of explosion," Tapper said. Cole is black.

Tapper made the remark during the opening of The Lead while discussing the arrest of the suspect in the case. Clips of Tapper’s opening segment were shared widely on social media after the arrest became public. Benny Johnson wrote on X, “You can’t make this stuff up.” Nick Sorter accused the network of pushing “anti-white rhetoric.” The criticism intensified as images of Cole began to circulate in news coverage and on social platforms.

Federal authorities arrested Cole at his home in Woodbridge, Virginia, early Thursday. The 30-year-old suspect is charged with offenses including the use of an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials. Investigators allege Cole is the person who planted pipe bombs outside the headquarters of both the RNC and DNC on Jan. 5, 2021, the night before Congress met to certify the 2020 election results. The case remained unresolved for years. US Attorney Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel said during a press conference on Thursday that key evidence had been “collecting dust” during the Biden administration.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators believe Cole began assembling bomb components as early as 2019 when he purchased materials from major retailers, including large hardware stores and Walmart. The bombs are characterized as crude devices made from 8-inch galvanized pipes. The complaint further claims Cole continued purchasing bomb-making components even after the alleged Jan. 2021 placements in Washington.

Cole Jr. worked for a bail bond company run by his father that helped secure the release of immigrants from ICE facilities. One of the companies associated with the senior Cole, StateWide, previously sued the Department of Homeland Security over the treatment of immigrants in detention. In 2021, Brian Cole Sr. appeared at a press conference alongside attorney Ben Crump, calling for a federal investigation into a Tennessee prosecutor, John Zimmerman, over alleged discrimination against a minority-owned business. Zimmerman had raised concerns about the bail bond company’s ethics and referenced disciplinary actions in a nearby district. An April 2025 Tennessee appeals court ruling supported sanctions against the company due to misconduct, including alleged misrepresentations by Cole Sr. related to bankruptcy filings and financial issues.