The FBI under Director Kash Patel conducted a heavily armed raid on the home of Capitol Police officer Shauni Kerkhoff in November 2025 based on a debunked article from The Blaze alleging she was the Jan. 6 pipe bomber — an allegation made through bogus 'gait analysis' that The Blaze later retracted after the real bomber, Brian Cole Jr., confessed. The raid involved a helicopter, bomb-disposal truck, and tactical agents, but Kerkhoff was cleared after providing video evidence she was home with her dog; she's now suing The Blaze for defamation and the reputational damage from the baseless accusation and government overreach. The episode highlights how conspiracy theories from fringe media outlets directly influenced federal law enforcement under Trump's new FBI leadership, prompting The Blaze to fire the reporter and face an 'existential threat' from pending litigation.