Overview of Details on Alleged DC Pipe Bomber, NYU Assault Suspect's Past, Air India Crash Cause: AM Update 12/5
Host Megan Kelly (SiriusXM) covers four main breaking-news items on the December 5 AM Update: the arrest of a suspect in the January 6, 2021 D.C. pipe-bomb incidents, new details about the criminal history of the man accused of assaulting an NYU student, U.S.–India friction over the investigation into the June Air India crash (with U.S. officials concluding pilot action likely caused the accident), and the retraction of an alarmist climate-economics paper published last year.
Key stories
Arrest in D.C. pipe-bomb case — Brian Cole Jr.
- Suspect: 30-year-old Brian Cole Jr., arrested in Woodbridge, Virginia.
- Charges: interstate transportation of an explosive with intent to kill/injure/damage a building and malicious attempt to damage/destroy by explosion (federal).
- Incident: Two pipe bombs were found on January 6, 2021 — one near the DNC and another near RNC headquarters. Neither detonated but were deemed viable.
- Evidence cited in the FBI affidavit:
- Devices used similar components: 1"x8" galvanized pipes with end caps, 14-gauge red/black wire, alligator clips, 9-volt batteries/connectors, white kitchen timers, steel wool, paper clips, homemade black powder.
- Purchase records (Oct 2019–Dec 2020) link Cole to items matching those used; specific buys include matching-size pipes (June & Nov 2020), end caps from Home Depot, 9V connectors, and kitchen timers.
- Cell-tower data allegedly places Cole’s phone near the RNC/DNC areas about seven times during the period the devices were planted.
- Video height estimate for the bomber (5'7" ±1") compared to Cole’s listed height (5'6").
- Search warrants executed at Cole’s family home uncovered additional materials “for pipe bombs,” per prosecutors.
- Background/context:
- Cole graduated high school in 2013, did not attend college.
- Worked for a bail-bonds company run by his father; that company has faced legal controversies and sanctions in prior fights with government entities.
- Next steps: Cole is scheduled to make his first court appearance (noted as happening “later today” in the program).
NYU assault suspect — James Rizzo
- Suspect: James Rizzo, 45, arrested after allegedly assaulting 20-year-old NYU student Amelia Lewis.
- Incident: Security footage shows Rizzo following Lewis, slapping her backside, pulling her to the ground by her hair, then fleeing.
- Additional allegations & charges:
- Rizzo is charged in this incident and is also accused of assaulting another woman and elbowing a 68-year-old woman on Thanksgiving (causing facial laceration requiring six stitches).
- Charges reportedly include assault, persistent sexual abuse, forcible touching, and four counts of burglary.
- Criminal history:
- At least 16 prior run-ins with law enforcement.
- Recently released (September) after serving two years for a conviction of persistent sexual abuse (December 2023 incident referenced).
- Registered as a Level 2 sex offender (classified as moderate risk of reoffending).
- Past alleged violent charge: attempted murder in 1997 (outcome unclear).
- Defense & custody: Rizzo’s attorney cited mental illness and housing instability in seeking release; judge ordered him detained for medical care and a psychiatric evaluation. Rizzo faces parole-violation proceedings.
- Host commentary criticized system failures (parole supervision, housing) that purportedly enabled the offense.
Air India Flight 171 crash — U.S. investigators point to pilot action
- Crash: June Air India crash killed 241 on board and 19 on the ground (as reported in the show); one passenger survived.
- Suspect: Captain Sumit Subarwal (named in the segment) — U.S. investigators say cockpit data shows someone moved the engine-fuel cutoff switches, cutting fuel to the engines.
- Evidence summary:
- Flight-data and cockpit-voice recordings reportedly show switches moved to cut engine fuel; the switches were later returned to run about 10 seconds later.
- Data indicates the captain did not pull back on the yoke during the descent (first officer did attempt to pull up), suggesting lack of corrective action by the captain.
- U.S.–India tensions:
- U.S. team (NTSB, FAA, Boeing, GE Aerospace reps) struggled with initial access; Indian investigators at first resisted U.S. taking photographs and delayed some data actions, leading to friction.
- U.S. sources worry India may avoid concluding pilot suicide/homicide for political reasons; India’s official report was characterized as vague and did not name pilots.
- Expert commentary:
- Former Navy pilot Wiz Buckley said the evidence points to intentional action (fuel cutoff switches are guarded/require deliberate movement), compared the case to EgyptAir 990, and highlighted cockpit safety practices (two-person cockpit, additional screening) as mitigations.
- Outlook: Ongoing dispute between investigative teams and governments likely; this is an active, sensitive international probe.
Retraction of major climate-economics paper
- Paper: April publication in Nature by researchers at Germany’s Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research predicted a ~62% decline in global economic output by 2100 under unabated emissions, and ~$38 trillion cost by 2049 — figures that generated major media attention.
- Problem: Economists found a major data error tied to Uzbekistan that heavily distorted results.
- Outcome: Authors retracted the paper because fixing the Uzbekistan data change would be too substantial for a correction. Excluding Uzbekistan reduces projected output losses to ~23%, aligning with prior studies.
- Next steps/comments: Authors plan to submit a revised version for peer review. The retraction follows public calls (e.g., Bill Gates) to temper alarmist climate messaging while acknowledging serious consequences, especially for the poorest countries.
Notable quotes and soundbites
- “We were going to track this person to the end of the earth.” — quoted about the FBI pursuit in the D.C. pipe-bomb case.
- “You look at the facts, and the facts right now say the guy killed all of them.” — former Navy pilot Wiz Buckley, on the Air India crash investigation.
- Reporting emphasized tensions between U.S. and Indian investigators and political incentives shaping official conclusions.
What to watch next
- Brian Cole Jr.: federal court appearances and further evidence disclosures.
- James Rizzo: Manhattan court hearing on Monday; psychiatric evaluation and parole proceedings.
- Air India crash: continued NTSB/Indian investigation updates and whether India accepts pilot-caused conclusion.
- Potsdam paper: release of revised analysis or resubmission to Nature.
Quick takeaways
- The FBI says they’ve arrested a Virginia man tied by forensic purchase records, cell data, and other evidence to the 2021 pipe bombs placed near the DNC/RNC; federal prosecution is underway.
- NYU assault suspect has a long, serious criminal history including recent release from prison and sex-offender registration — authorities detained him for psychiatric evaluation.
- U.S. investigators conclude cockpit actions likely caused the Air India crash; this finding is politically sensitive and has generated friction with Indian authorities.
- A high-profile climate-economics paper was retracted after data errors were found; corrected estimates are less extreme and more consistent with prior research.
(Program also included sponsor ad segments for Odoo, Cozy Earth, Riverbend Ranch, and a nicotine pouch product.)