On Thursday, CNN anchor Jake Tapper made an error during his segment on "The Lead" by referring to Brian Cole Jr., who is black, as a "white man." This misidentification occurred shortly after CNN published a photo of Cole sourced from his mother's Instagram account.

Cole, 30, was arrested at his home in Woodbridge, Virginia, and faces charges related to the use of an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials. He is accused of planting pipe bombs at the Republican and Democratic National Committees in Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2021, the day before Congress was set to certify the 2020 electoral votes.

The investigation into the pipe bombs had stalled for several years, with U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel indicating that significant evidence had not been acted upon during the Biden administration. The Trump administration had previously renewed a $500,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, although this reward will not be claimed as federal authorities conducted the investigation.

Authorities allege that Cole began assembling the bombs, which were made from galvanized pipes, as early as 2019, purchasing materials from various hardware stores and retailers, including Walmart. Reports indicate that he continued to acquire bomb-making components even after the alleged bomb placements in Washington, D.C.