Media Outlet’s LIE Triggers Federal Investigation

A former Capitol Police officer who heroically defended Congress on January 6 has filed a defamation lawsuit against Blaze Media after the right-wing outlet falsely accused her of planting pipe bombs in what her attorneys describe as a manufactured conspiracy theory designed to undermine the truth about that fateful day.

Story Snapshot

Shauni Kerkhoff filed a 127-page lawsuit against Blaze Media for falsely identifying her as the January 6 pipe bomber based on debunked “gait analysis”
The false accusations triggered an FBI investigation, forced her onto administrative leave from the CIA, and subjected her to death threats and harassment
FBI arrested the actual suspect, Brian Cole Jr., in December 2025, but Kerkhoff’s reputation remains damaged in far-right circles
The lawsuit names Blaze Media, former reporters Steve Baker and Joseph Hanneman, and seeks unspecified damages for irreparable harm to her life and career

Hero Cop Becomes Target of Conspiracy Theory

Shauni Kerkhoff spent January 6, 2021, defending the U.S. Capitol from rioters, firing non-lethal munitions at attackers led by Guy Reffitt. Her testimony helped convict Reffitt in the first January 6 jury trial in 2022. Yet Blaze Media articles accused her of planting pipe bombs outside the RNC and DNC headquarters the night before, relying on anonymous “forensic gait analysis” claiming a 98 percent match with surveillance footage. Kerkhoff had video evidence proving she was at home filming her dog when the bombs were planted, but the outlet ignored this alibi.

FBI Investigation and Career Devastation

The Blaze’s accusations prompted the FBI to investigate Kerkhoff, with agents and search dogs combing through her home. Her employer, the CIA, placed her on administrative leave from her campus security position. Kerkhoff hid for weeks with a gun as death threats poured in and reporters swarmed her property. Far-right activists even posted conspiracy memes on her deceased mother’s online obituary. Though the FBI ultimately cleared her and she was reinstated at the CIA, the damage to her reputation persists in conspiracy circles that continue promoting the false narrative.

Actual Suspect Arrested, Lawsuit Filed

In December 2025, the FBI arrested Brian Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia, charging him with transporting explosives interstate, attempted destruction of buildings, and using a weapon of mass destruction. Cole pleaded not guilty and cited the Blaze reporting in his defense strategy. On April 21, 2026, Kerkhoff filed her defamation lawsuit naming Blaze Media, former reporters Steve Baker and Joseph Hanneman, and Veritas Regnat LLC. Baker, a January 6 participant himself facing criminal charges, and Hanneman allegedly pushed unverified claims without basic journalistic standards. The lawsuit states the accusations “irreparably changed her life.”

Media Accountability and Deep State Targeting

Even FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, a former conservative podcaster, labeled the Blaze reporting “grossly inaccurate” and misleading to the public. Kerkhoff’s attorneys assert the defendants “simply made it up,” motivated by a desire for clicks and to advance narratives portraying January 6 as an inside job orchestrated by the “deep state.” This case highlights a troubling pattern where government employees who performed their duties honorably become targets of conspiracy-driven media outlets. The lawsuit seeks to establish accountability for journalism that fabricates stories targeting individuals who defended constitutional order, raising questions about whether partisan media outlets prioritize truth or narrative when covering politically charged events.

Federal cop sues right-wing outlet the Blaze after they falsely accused her of planting Jan 6 pipe bombs https://t.co/gTwqaIetCs

— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) April 21, 2026

Blaze Media retracted the story after Cole’s arrest but has not commented on the lawsuit. Neither Baker nor Hanneman responded to media inquiries. The case remains in its early stages, with no trial date set. For many Americans frustrated by media manipulation and government accountability failures, this lawsuit represents a rare opportunity for an ordinary civil servant to fight back against powerful outlets that weaponize misinformation for political gain, regardless of the human cost.