The White House said President Donald Trumps pardons of Jan. 6, 2021, defendants dont apply to what the Department of Justice has referred to as the January 6 pipe bomb case.

A White House official told Scripps News Brian J. Cole would not be protected by the presidents pardon of people who were affiliated with crimes at or near the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, because Cole is accused of placing the pipe bombs the prior day.

The pipe bombs were placed on January 5, the unnamed official wrote in an email. The pardon pertained to events at or near (the) Capitol on January 6 and clearly does not cover this scenario."

Pardon History

President Trump issued a pardon on January 20, 2025, to all individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Scripps News obtains body camera footage of DC pipe bomb suspect

In a motion filed this week, Coles defense attorneys argued that a pardon should also apply to their client, who is awaiting trial and has not yet been convicted on charges that he planted two explosive devices.

Mr. Cole maintains his innocence. For this motion, however, the critical point is how the government itself describes his alleged conduct when it occurred, where it occurred, and what it was allegedly about, a motion filed by attorneys Mario B. Williams and John Shoreman said.

The dates in question

Cole was arrested in 2025, several years after authorities said he had placed explosive devices at Democratic and Republican headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C.

Surveillance video from the incident captured a person planting the pipe bombs at the political offices on January 5, 2021.

The explosives were not discovered, however, until January 6.

By the governments own telling, this is exactly the kind of case that President Trumps January 20, 2025 Presidential Pardon was invoked to reach, Coles filing said.

Coles attorneys argued that the government repeatedly linked Coles alleged crimes to the events of January 6, which are covered by the pardon.

The former Capitol Police Chief even testified that the devices were part of a coordinated plan related to the attack on the Capitol, they argued.

Law professor gives insight

What (the defense) is trying to do is take advantage of the breadth of (the pardon) ... President Trump issued on his very first day in office, said Mark Osler, law professor at the University of St. Thomas.

He called the preparation of the pardon hurried.

Its not such a great job of drafting, frankly, to say that Im granting a pardon to anyone who was convicted of events in or around the Capitol on that given day, Osler said. Potentially, it could cover someone who did a carjacking behind the Capitol that day.

This geographic language, however, may not play in the defenses favor, Osler said. One could argue the Republican and Democratic national offices are not "right there by the Capitol, he said.

Osler said the fact that the pipe bombs were in place ahead of January 6, which is the date mentioned in the pardon, could also present an uphill battle for Coles team.

I think its unlikely to succeed for the defense, quite frankly, he said.

Osler said it is possible that the president could come out and further clarify who, specifically, he intended to be pardoned, but there is also a clarification mechanism built into the pardon itself by allowing the attorney general to issue the pardon certificates.

I think the intention was that that group (to be pardoned) would be defined by who the attorney general sent a certificate of pardon to, said Osler.

Prosecutors filings

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Washington, D.C., declined to comment on this case.

In court filings, however, federal prosecutors claimed Cole admitted to planting the devices but said he denied that they were intended to disrupt the vote certification the following day.

They also said Cole initially told investigators he went to Washington, D.C., to attend a protest in support of President Trump and expressed concern about votes being tampered with.

In the span of three days, two federal judges in Oregon made separate rulings prohibiting federal agents from deploying chemical munitions and other projectiles near the Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement building unless there is an imminent threat.

The judges allowed for preliminary injunctions in two separate lawsuits, filed last year, against the Department of Homeland Security. Both lawsuits claimed federal agents affiliated with the Portland ICE facility used chemical munitions, projectiles and other aggressive tactics in recent months in a manner that harmed the public.

This means the torture has to stop, said Jeffrey Dubner, an attorney with the non-profit organization Democracy Forward. The legal group helped file one of the lawsuits on behalf of residents of Grays Landing, an apartment complex across the street from the Portland ICE building.

The suit claimed residents who were not engaged in protests suffered significant health complications like respiratory problems, slurred speech, and burning eyes as a result of the chemical deployments.

The residents of Grays Landing in southwest Portland have been exposed to tear gas in their homes over and over again for months, said Dubner. The court has now said, that has to stop until the case is over.

The other federal lawsuit, filed on behalf of several citizens who were either involved in demonstrations or observing federal agents, alleged multiple people were injured by projectiles.

RELATED STORY | Portland residents who live near ICE facility seek relief from tear gas

The suit claimed one elderly woman, Laurie Eckman, 84, was struck with a canister that caused her forehead to bleed. She also had trouble breathing as a result of the chemical irritants.

It gives me hope that a judge will listen to citizens heartfelt objections to what DHS agents were doing to our First Amendment rights and say that this cant continue, Eckman said in a written statement. Democracies like ours fail not in a sudden coup but over a long period and in small ways that accumulate, and this decision is one step back to normalcy, and to government by the people, for the people.

In a written statement provided to Scripps News, the Department of Homeland Security called the rulings unnecessary.

Law enforcement does not use crowd control measures on protestors they are only used on rioters, a spokesperson said. The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly not rioting. DHS is taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters. We remind the public that rioting is dangerousobstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony.

A spokesperson also said, DHS is authorized to do what is appropriate and necessary in each situation to diffuse violence against our officers in the most appropriate manner possible. We, as a federal law enforcement agency, will continue to safeguard the American people, our homeland, with honor, integrity and values in line with the U.S. Constitution and basic common sense.

Dubner said the ruling offers some relief for the people he represents, but the lawsuit is not over.

Its not the end of the fight. The case will proceed to a judgment, but for now, its a tremendous relief, Dubner said. Were so grateful and humbled to be representing the residents of Grays Landing, people who have been through an indescribable ordeal and have shown tremendous bravery in telling their stories in public and coming forward to say, No. This has to stop.

Despite more than a million dollars in reward funds being offered for clues leading to the return of Nancy Guthrie, the search for the missing 84-year-old grandmother is still ongoing nearly a month after she disappeared.

Friday morning, Guthries daughter, Savannah, posted a clip from the Today Show on her Instagram

page, explaining how tipsters can be anonymous and possibly qualify for a cash reward if they provide reliable information that leads investigators to Nancy Guthrie.

In a post earlier this week, Savannah conceded that it is possible her mother is no longer alive.

We also know that she may be lost. She may already be gone, she said in a social media posting.We need to know where she is. We need her to come home.

Detectives, meanwhile, continue to accept and sort through videos and tips provided by members of the public.

They told Scripps News they are aware of one doorbell camera video, taken miles from the Guthries home, that appeared to capture some vehicles around a similar time to Guthries disappearance.

We are aware of the video, said Kevin Adger, a Pima County Sheriffs Department spokesperson. Im told the property appears to be a bit further from the Guthrie home. We asked homeowners in the area to summit (sic) video and encourage anyone who hasnt to please do so via this link.

People can also submit tips here:1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

MORE ON GUTHRIE'S DISAPPEARANCE | Moms' volunteer group from Mexico joins search for Nancy Guthrie

A Friday update from the Sheriffs Department indicates the investigation is still active even though PCSD is refocusing resources to detectives specifically assigned to this case.

Thursday, a man was arrested for a misdemeanor DUI charge in front of Guthries home. Authorities said the arrest is not related to the Guthrie investigation.

Grainy surveillance video shows a new perspective of the circumstances that led to a non-fatal Border Patrol shooting last month in which two people were wounded during a traffic stop in a Portland, Oregon parking lot.

Footage released by Fora Health following a federal subpoena shows a distant, partially restricted view of the altercation in a neighboring health care facilitys parking lot near SE Main St and SE 100th Ave.

A representative for Fora Health said the organization released the footage publicly in the interest of transparency.

The footage has no audio.

The enforcement operation

During an enforcement operation on January 8th, federal agents said they were targeting a red truck driven by Luis Nio-Moncada. A woman named Yorlenys Zambrano-Contreras was a passenger.

Both people are Venezuelan nationals who are in the United States illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Border Patrol agents were not wearing body cameras, but the surveillance video shows multiple unmarked vehicles following the red pickup truck as it pulled into a parking space in the middle of the afternoon.

Federal agents said four officers approached the vehicle and identified themselves as law enforcement, commanding the driver to exit the vehicle.

Video shows the red truck reversing and maneuvering forward and backward. Agents said the truck slammed into one of their rented vehicles, causing some agents to fear for their safety or the safety of others.

In one court filing an agent said, the vehicle attempted to run over the Border Patrol agents.

Another court filing said the vehicle reversed, colliding with an unoccupied Border Patrol vehicle with enough speed and force to cause significant damage.

As a result, one agent fired shots, striking Nio-Moncada in the arm and Zambrano-Contreras in the chest. Nio-Moncada drove away from the scene and called 911.

RELATED NEWS | 'Time to get aggressive:' New footage released in case of Chicago woman shot by Border Patrol

He was indicted on an Aggravated Assault charge and a Depredation of Federal Property charge. Zambrano-Contreras has since been sentenced to probation for an Improper Entry by Alien, charge, a petty offense, according to her attorney that is unrelated to the shooting incident.

In a motion to have their client released from custody, Nio-Moncadas attorneys suggested Nio-Moncada may have been afraid for his own safety when he fled the scene and not trying to hurt anyone when his vehicle struck the border agents car.

Given the facts in this case there is a significant question of whether Mr. Nio-Moncada had any intent to assault or whether he was merely trying to flee, they wrote. What is more, the complaint fails to even allege a specific individual who either (a) believed they were about to be hit by the vehicle or (b) Mr. Nio-Moncada intended to hit and missed.

RELATED STORY | Private autopsy details gunshot wound to side of Renee Good's head

The incident happened one day after the shooting death of Renee Good in Minneapolis. Good was inside her vehicle when a federal agent shot and killed her during the massive ICE enforcement operation in town.

The point is not simply that Border Patrol has used extremely aggressive and controversial tactics, but that these tactics and the widespread reporting about them are creating a climate of abject terror in the immigrant community, the attorneys, Michael Benson and Peyton Lee, wrote.

A Florida legislative bill that would require additional safety standards for vacation rental homes that have pools has unanimously passed in the state Senate.

The bill would require long-term and short-term residential rental properties with a swimming pool or a body of water within 150 feet to be equipped with at least one water or pool safety feature. Those safety features may include a fence, an alarm, or a pool cover, among other options.

The bill would also allow the state to suspend or revoke someones vacation rental license or fine a licensee for non-compliance.

The legislation came to be after separate bills proposed by Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, a Democrat, and Sen. Danny Burgess, a Republican, were combined.

The pair emphatically shook hands in the Florida Senate Thursday as their combined legislationsuccessfully advanced.

This has been a great opportunity to work with Sen. Smith on an issue thats near and dear to our hearts, said Sen. Burgess. Ill be your wingman on a pool bill any day of the week, hesaidtoSen. Smith.

Sen. Smith thanked Sen. Burgess not only for his kindness but also for his collaboration in coming together for a bill that really is a direct product of the solutions that both of our communities came forward with to tackle this growing crisis.

Sen. Smith said 119 children in Florida diedas a result ofdrownings last year.

A multi-part Scripps News investigation found that at least 50 children since 2021 had been involved in fatal or non-fatal drownings, specifically at vacation rental homes in Florida.

Sen. Smith, who had proposed water safety bills in the past, said Scripps News reporting about drownings at vacation rentals helped inspire him to focus new legislation specifically on vacation rentals.

That was an issue that we knew was a problem, but we didn't realize the extent of the problem until we saw some of this reporting that has been put together by Scripps News, Sen. Smith said in September.

The current bipartisan bill has the support of Airbnb.

If you would have told me six months ago that I would be getting a bill through the Florida Senate to regulate vacation rentals with the support of Airbnb, I would have called you crazy, Sen. Smith said, thanking the company for its support.

Airbnb supports bipartisan efforts in Florida to strengthen safety standards for all homes with pools. Clear, practical, safety measures help protect families and can give hosts confidence in welcoming guests, Airbnb told Scripps News in a written statement. Safety is a consideration for anyone living or staying by water, and incidents on Airbnb are extremely rare. We recently launched an in-app feature that provides guests booking stays near water with safety tips. We also continue to work with partners on education campaigns and initiatives, including discounted pool fences for hosts, to promote safety around water.

Colorado sheriffs Lt. Jeremy Muxlow has firsthand experience with high-profile kidnapping investigations and is closely following the search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie.

Those are the big moments in law enforcement. Those are the ones that demand 100% perfection because someones life is potentially hanging in the balance, Muxlow told Scripps News.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Son of missing 84-Year-Old Nancy Guthrie urges captors to make contact

Four years ago, Muxlow and the Rio Blanco County Sheriffs Office were called to a well-known property in their community the sprawling ranch owned by former New York City mayor and onetime presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg to investigate a reported car crash. But the deputies soon learned a housekeeper was missing, and had been taken by force by an intruder who used a truck to ram his way onto the property.

My mind was in battle mode, Muxlow recalled. Weve got to find the lady, weve got to ID the suspect. Weve got to start getting direction of travel and location.

Muxlow, like the rest of the nation, is following the search effort for Nancy Guthrie in Tucson. The 84-year-old was reported missing on Sunday. He said in his experience, the element of celebrity can add pressure to an investigation.

The reality of the situation is that high-profile cases add layers of complexity. Theres increased attention, media interest, and outside pressures, but the fundamentals dont change. They cant change, Muxlow said. I had to turn off whose ranch it was ... no offense to Mr. Bloomberg whatsoever. All that I was focused on 100% was just finding our victim.

In the Rio Blanco case, authorities said the kidnapper forced the victim to drive him out of state to a motel in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The SWAT team there executed a rescue operation and brought the victim home uninjured.

The suspect, Joseph Beecher, was convicted and later took his own life in prison, according to Muxlow. Prosecutors said he went to the ranch intending to kill Bloomberg, then committed the kidnapping when he discovered the politician wasnt there.

Muxlow said Beecher made a critical mistake that led authorities to track him down, but he would not elaborate on what that misstep was. He said revealing it might give clues to the person who took Nancy Guthrie, and hes holding out hope that investigators in Tucson will experience a similar break.

Its going to take a lot of patience, Muxlow said. Prayer, honestly, is huge, and just know that the best of the best in our nation are focused in Arizona right now doing what they can do.