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.
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Divergence score
This event sits in the top 44% of divergence this week. 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
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
The split, in one line
Examiner gives extensive defendant d...
How each outlet covered it
Fact ledger · what actually happened, cross-checked