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The Blaze Criticized After Falsely Naming J6 Pipe-Bomb Suspect — Arrest Identifies Brian Cole

12:10 AM, 12/05/2025
The Blaze Criticized After Falsely Naming J6 Pipe-Bomb Suspect — Arrest Identifies Brian Cole

Summary: The Blaze has been criticized after it wrongly identified a suspect in the January 6 pipe-bomb case. Authorities arrested and named Brian Cole of Woodbridge, Virginia, as the person accused of placing explosives outside the RNC and DNC in 2021. That arrest contradicted an early-November Blaze story that had named former Capitol Police officer Shauni Kerkhoff, who surveillance showed was at home at the time. The misreporting prompted sharp rebukes from other journalists and raised fresh concerns about unverified reporting.

The Blaze Criticized After Falsely Naming J6 Pipe-Bomb Suspect

Conservative outlet The Blaze has come under sharp criticism after publishing an incorrect identification of the person alleged to have planted pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) offices in 2021.

On Thursday, authorities arrested and later identified the suspect as Brian Cole of Woodbridge, Virginia. Officials say Cole placed the devices the night before the January 6, 2021, attack; he was scheduled to appear in court later that day.

The arrest undermined an early-November story from The Blaze in which reporter Steve Barker named former Capitol Police officer Shauni Kerkhoff as the suspect and suggested she later joined a "three-letter intelligence agency." Surveillance footage and official accounts showed Kerkhoff was at home with her dogs when the devices were placed, calling the earlier report into question.

Response From Other Reporters: Journalists were swift to react. Will Sommer of Bulwark called the development "very bad news" for The Blaze, while Reason reporter Billy Binion urged the outlet to "shut down in disgrace." Social media users and other commentators also highlighted the outlet's inaccurate reporting.

This episode has renewed debate about the dangers of publishing unverified allegations and how quickly speculative reporting can fuel conspiracy theories. Media observers say the case underscores the importance of careful fact-checking, especially in high-profile investigations that can harm reputations.

Note: This account is based on reporting first published by Mediaite and subsequent official statements regarding the arrest.

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