Politics Added 72d ago 3 outlets

Former Capitol Police officer Shauni Kerkhoff sues Blaze Media over pipe bomb allegation

Former U.S. Capitol Police officer Shauni Kerkhoff filed a 127-page lawsuit against Blaze Media, reporters Stephen Baker and Joseph Hanneman, and Veritas Regnat LLC over a now-retracted story claiming she was a forensic match for the Jan. 6 pipe bomber. The story led to an FBI investigation and her current employer, the CIA, placing her on administrative leave. In December 2025, Brian Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia was arrested and indicted in connection with the Jan. 6 pipe bombs.

Divergence score

3 outlets covered it, splitting into 3 framing camps across 3 bias groups.

3 camps

3 bias groups

The spectrum · how 3 outlets placed this story

LeftCenterRight

Politico

Washington Examiner

HuffPost

Horizontal = outlet biasColor = this story's framing

Supportive of action

Neutral

Dismissive

Critical

Alarmist

International angle

The split, in one line

Examiner gives extensive defendant detail and Bongino's rebuke; Politico offers a bare summary; HuffPost leads with the officer's alibi evidence and emphasizes the false-accusation angle, adding a victim-centered frame.

How each outlet covered it

Lightly covered so far

Too few outlets to map a left-right split. Here is each take as it stands.

Sparse coverage · 3 outlets

PPoliticoCENTER72d ago

“Former Capitol police officer sues Blaze Media over pipe bomb allegation”

HPHuffPostLEFT72d ago

“Former Jan. 6 Cop Falsely Accused Of Planting Pipe Bombs At RNC, DNC Sues”

WEWashington ExaminerRIGHT72d ago

“Ex-Capitol Police officer sues Blaze over suggestion she planted Jan. 6 pipe bomb”

Tracked claims from across the political spectrum

Fact ledger

Corroborated

Disputed