CNN host Jake Tapper incorrectly described Washington, D.C., pipe bomb suspect Brian Cole Jr. as a “30-year-old white man” during Thursday’s broadcast of The Lead, moments before his own program displayed photos showing that Cole is a black man.
There is no way you can possibly hate our lame stream media enough. Here’s Jake Tapper talking about the arrest of the alleged J6 pipe bomber. Now I ASK YOU….. Does this guy look WHITE to you? ♀️ pic.twitter.com/CZZD1Rot4X
— Gail Rule (@GailRule1) December 5, 2025
“Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old white man from the D.C. suburbs, is charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and with malicious destruction by means of explosion,” Tapper said on air.
Minutes later, The Lead aired images of the suspect that did not match Tapper’s description.
CNN host Jake Tapper "broke" the story about the arrest of 30-year-old Brian Cole Jr. for alleged involvement in the J6 pipe bomb case.
He described the suspect as a "white man." Brian Cole Jr. is not white. pic.twitter.com/m0Fj1M3gc7 — Media Lies (@MediasLies) December 5, 2025
Cole, 30, was arrested and charged in connection with the pipe bombs placed outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021.
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Breitbart News reported Thursday that Cole was “arrested and charged with placing the pipe bombs at the RNC and the DNC on January 5, 2021.”
The report stated he was also charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and attempted malicious destruction using explosive materials.
Additional charges may follow as the investigation continues.
According to federal officials, investigators linked Cole to the scene through a combination of license plate reader technology and cell tower data gathered nearly five years after the devices were planted.
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Authorities have been working to close the case since the discovery of the explosives, which were found the day before unrest at the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement that the arrest represents the culmination of extensive investigative work.
“Today’s arrest was the result of good, diligent police work and collaboration on a case that languished for four years under the prior administration,” Bondi said.
“The American people are safer thanks to this morning’s successful operation.”
The investigation into the pipe bombs has involved multiple federal agencies.
Officials have repeatedly described the devices as viable, and the case remained a high priority due to the location of the explosives and their timing on the eve of congressional certification proceedings.
Cole’s charges include transporting an explosive device across state lines and attempted malicious destruction using explosive materials, but court filings indicate that more counts could be added as investigative teams review additional evidence.
The error made during Tapper’s broadcast circulated quickly on social media, as viewers pointed out the discrepancy between his verbal description and the images aired shortly afterward.
Federal authorities have stated that additional investigative steps remain underway and that the case will continue to develop as more information is processed and reviewed.
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Is anyone surprised? I can not understand how Tapper still has a job, any job. He is utterly unqualified for any job beyond hamburger flipper or trash collector and even those require a level of responsibility that seems beyond Tapper’s ability. I am not in the least bit surprised that Tapper would try to lie knowing that photos exposing his lie would immediately follow his lie. He likely knows his liberal audience are too dimwitted to notice.
The problem is YOU THINK Jake Tapper DIDN’T KNOW the guy was BLACK when he labeled him WHITE. See my post above. God bless you and yours!
And what YOU fail to understand is this isn’t accidental nor is it “sloppy journalism”, it is the intentional misrepresentation of material facts to protect the narrative. Jimmy Kimmel did the SAME THING when he told his mind numbed audience that Charlie Kirk’s killer was a REPUBLICAN. A poll came out YESTERDAY that said only 24% of LIKELY VOTERS know his killer was a left wing nut in a “relationship” with a transgender nut who was a “furry”. Most people only pay attention to news THE FIRST TIME it comes out, that is when MSM lying narratives are set.` You’re welcome.
People stop listening after they hear what they want.
Well, at least he didn’t mention that he was a white supremacist. I cannot figure why he left that out of his description.
Who, in their right mind, gives a damn what Tappper says?
That’s not a white fellah, that’s the new attorney general of VA.