Brian Cole Jr., the man accused of planting pipe bombs outside both the Democratic and Republican National Committees the night before the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, appeared at a federal detention hearing before a magistrate judge on Tuesday.

Arrested earlier this month in Woodbridge, Virginia, Cole has yet to enter a plea. During the hearing, Cole’s attorneys argued for his release while awaiting trial, contending that he does not pose a danger to the community. They proposed that he be placed under home detention with GPS monitoring, supervised by a relative. The defense countered assertions from federal prosecutors who insisted that Cole should remain in custody.

During the hearing, Cole’s lawyers highlighted his diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. A recent court filing noted that Cole has “zero criminal history” and that there is “zero evidence that he will flee.” They further emphasized that no one was harmed as a result of the alleged bombings since neither device detonated.

However, according to a recent Justice Department memo, Cole allegedly confessed to his actions after his arrest. Authorities found several bomb-making components during a search of his home. The FBI obtained credit card statements indicating purchases of materials used to construct the bombs.

In a video interview with law enforcement, Cole, who is 30 years old, claimed he traveled to Washington, D.C., to protest the outcome of the 2020 election on January 5. Initially, he denied planting the bombs, insisting he was not the individual captured on surveillance video during the attempted attacks.

Yet, when agents reminded him that lying to them could result in additional criminal charges, he hesitated and then admitted, “yes,” he was the person in the footage. The documents reveal Cole provided a detailed account of how he constructed, transported, and planted the pipe bombs.

When questioned about his motives, Cole indicated that he felt overwhelmed by the political climate. “Something just snapped,” he stated, expressing frustration with the state of affairs. He confessed he intended to target the political parties because “they were in charge,” elaborating that he did not support either party at that moment.

The idea to use pipe bombs, according to Cole, stemmed from his interest in historical events, specifically the Troubles in Northern Ireland. However, he denied that his actions were aimed at Congress or related to the proceedings scheduled for January 6. He expressed relief that the devices did not detonate and insisted that he planted them at night specifically to avoid causing harm.

Cole’s defense team has requested a judge to order the release of any video or written statements, confessions, or admissions by Cole to assist in their case. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors argue that, given the severity of the charges—including transporting explosives across state lines and maliciously attempting to use them to damage property with a potential sentence of up to 20 years—Cole “poses an intolerable risk of danger to the community if released.”

Judge Martin J. Sharbaugh stated he would not decide on Cole’s release on Tuesday but promised an “expeditious” ruling. Cole’s arrest marks a significant development in a long-standing investigation that has perplexed law enforcement officers and fueled numerous conspiracy theories surrounding the case.