U.S. District Judge Amir Ali

A federal trial for Brian J. Cole Jr., charged with planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican party headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, is set to begin February 16. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali rejected defense arguments that Cole qualifies for a pardon linked to the Capitol riot and ruled his case cannot be dismissed.

A federal trial for Brian J. Cole Jr., charged with planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, is set to begin February 16. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali rejected arguments that Cole qualifies for a pardon under Trump's mass pardons for Jan. 6 rioters, ruling the pardons apply only to those convicted of Capitol-related crimes.

A federal judge ruled that President Trump's pardons for Jan. 6 rioters do not apply to Brian J. Cole Jr., a Virginia man charged with planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., on the night before the riot. Cole was not charged or convicted when Trump issued the pardons, and prosecutors argued the pardons only cover those convicted of or indicted for Capitol riot-related crimes.

A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s pardons for Jan. 6 rioters do not apply to Brian J. Cole Jr., a Virginia man charged with planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., on the night before the Capitol attack. The judge noted that Cole was not convicted of any crimes when the pardons were issued, and the pardons explicitly targeted those convicted in the Jan. 6 attack.

A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s pardons for Jan. 6 rioters do not apply to Brian J. Cole Jr., a Virginia man charged with planting pipe bombs near Democratic and Republican party headquarters in Washington, D.C., before the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. The judge noted that Cole was not charged or convicted when Trump issued the pardons, which explicitly applied only to those convicted of Jan. 6-related crimes.

A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s pardons for Jan. 6 rioters do not apply to Brian J. Cole Jr., a Virginia man charged with planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on the night before the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. The judge noted that Cole was not charged or convicted when Trump issued the pardons, which explicitly applied only to those convicted of Jan. 6-related crimes.

A federal judge ruled that President Trump’s pardons for Jan. 6 rioters do not apply to Brian J. Cole Jr., a Virginia man charged with planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C. The judge noted Cole was not charged or convicted when the pardons were issued, and the case against him will proceed.

Two federal judges ruled against changes to the U.S. Department of Education’s public service student loan forgiveness program, stating the modifications exceeded the department’s authority and violated the First Amendment. The changes, based on an executive order targeting groups supporting undocumented immigrants, diversity initiatives, or gender-affirming care, were challenged by 20+ states, cities, and nonprofits. The original 2007 program aimed to incentivize public service work by forgiving loans after 10 years.