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Patel Says Biden Administration ‘Sat On’ January 6 Pipe-Bomb Evidence; Arrest Follows Re-Examination

12:51 AM, 12/06/2025

Kash Patel told Fox News that he believes key evidence in the January 6 pipe-bomb investigation was left unexamined for years and that renewed scrutiny of existing materials led to the arrest of Brian Cole, 30. Cole faces charges for allegedly planting pipe bombs outside both the DNC and RNC on January 5, 2021. Patel said investigators rechecked items such as security footage showing limited-edition shoes and reviewed cell-tower and provider records. Former AG Pam Bondi echoed Patel's criticism, calling the case "old evidence, new people."

Patel Alleges Evidence Was Overlooked for Years as Arrest Follows Re-Examination

Kash Patel criticized the Biden administration on Fox News after authorities announced the arrest of Brian Cole, 30, in connection with pipe bombs placed outside the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee on January 5, 2021. Cole is expected to be arraigned on charges tied to those devices, which were discovered the night before the Capitol riot on January 6.

Speaking with host Trace Gallagher, Patel said investigators relied on re-examining existing material to identify a suspect. He claimed the evidence had been left untouched for years and that renewed scrutiny of old leads produced the breakthrough.

"The prior administration sat on the evidence for four years," Patel said. "There wasn't any production of new evidence from five years ago."

Patel described specific items investigators revisited, including security footage that showed a pair of limited-edition shoes and cell-tower and provider records that investigators rechecked under previously issued warrants. He said his team brought in outside experts and re-reviewed every piece of evidence to determine why certain phone numbers had been scrubbed and why geo-locational analysis had not been completed earlier.

Patel framed the prior handling of the case as either "sheer incompetence or complete intentional negligence," calling neither acceptable from an agency investigating the case. He also said, according to his remarks, that "Deputy Director [Dan] Bongino led the charge" to re-open and re-evaluate the materials.

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi made a similar critique on Fox News, describing the case as one of "old evidence, new people" and saying it "languished" for years before renewed attention.

Note: The above reflects statements made by Patel and Bondi during television interviews. The characterizations of prior investigative steps are their allegations about how the earlier investigation was handled.

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