Judge rules Jan. 6 pardon doesn’t protect accused DC pipe bomber

President Trump's January 6th clemency applies to about 1,500 people, but a federal judge says

it does not cover the man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic

National Committee headquarters the night before the Capitol attack. Prosecutors have charged Brian

Cole Jr. in connection with two pipe bombs found outside the RNC and DNC headquarters in Washington

The devices never detonated, but the FBI has said they were viable

Cole has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys argued the case should be dismissed because his alleged actions were part of the events surrounding January 6th

But U.S. District Judge Amir Ali rejected that argument on Monday. The judge ruled the pardon applies only to people who had been charged or convicted of January 6th-related offenses when it was issued

Cole had been neither. The ruling allows the case to move forward

Cole is scheduled to return to court tomorrow for a status hearing