In the United States, a federal judge ordered that Brian J. Cole Jr. remain detained while awaiting trial for allegedly placing two pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican party headquarters on January 5, 2021. The bombs were discovered the night before a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob that sought to overturn the results of the presidential election. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali sustained the decision of U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh, asserting that Cole posed a significant risk to public safety. Prosecutors revealed that Cole had confessed to the crime, stating his dissatisfaction with how leaders addressed election-related grievances. Cole, who is 30 years old and diagnosed with autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder, maintains a not guilty plea to the charges. His defense argues that the devices were harmless and lacked the capacity to cause harm, as concluded by one of their experts. Nevertheless, prosecutors emphasized the premeditated nature of the offenses, which allegedly involved extensive planning. Since his arrest on December 4, 2021, Cole has remained in jail, with authorities providing evidence from phone records that linked him to the crime. According to court documents, Cole expressed feeling like 'something just snapped' due to his frustration with political leaders. Officials suggested that despite any psychological issues, the actions taken by Cole were calculated and intended to instill fear within the public. If found guilty, Cole could face significant prison time, including up to 20 years for one of the charges, which has a mandatory minimum sentence. This incident has raised critical discussions regarding security in the context of heightened political tensions in the U.S., especially surrounding significant events like the January 6 Capitol riot. It further illustrates the risks associated with extremist behaviors and premeditated acts of political violence that could destabilize public safety and democratic processes.