Virginia man who cheered ‘political assassinations’ pleads guilty after 150 pipe bombs are seized from home

A Virginia man charged with stockpiling the largest number of finished explosives in FBI history and accused of making threatening comments about politicians has pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle and possession of unregistered destructive devices. 

Authorities seized around 150 pipe bombs and other explosive devices from Brad Spafford’s home near Norfolk last fall, according to court documents. 

Spafford was also accused by prosecutors of using former President Joe Biden’s photo for target practice, saying “he believed political assassinations should be brought back” and telling someone shortly after President Donald Trump’s assassination attempt, “Bro, I hope the shooter doesn’t miss Kamala,” according to an informant. 

The suspect was accused of making threatening comments about former President Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris.  (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Spafford has remained in custody since his arrest in December, when a judge ruled he had “shown the capacity for extreme danger.”

He originally pleaded not guilty in January, and his defense argued he should be released because he had a steady job and no criminal record. 

Spafford, who is married with two young daughters, lost three fingers in a homemade explosives accident in 2021, the judge noted. 

This image provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia shows a rifle seized when authorities arrested Brad Spafford, a Virginia man, on a weapons charge in December 2024. (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia via AP)

Spafford could face 10 years in prison on each charge and is scheduled to be sentenced in December. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.