EJ Haust, official guest host of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, pointed to recent investigative reporting by journalist Sharyl Attkisson as evidence supporting long-standing concerns surrounding January 6, 2021.
On Tuesday’s edition of the show, Haust and host Michael Patrick Leahy discussed clips from Attkisson’s “Full Measure” investigation, which examined the role of undercover operatives, confidential informants, police positioning, and alleged instigators captured on video during the Capitol breach.
Asked by Leahy where she was on January 6, Haust said she was working while watching coverage in the background. She said her immediate instinct was that demonstrators were being drawn into a trap.
“I remember thinking, ‘Oh, gosh. Don’t do it, everybody. Don’t fall for it.’ Boom. My first thought was, ‘Don’t fall for it,’” she said.
Haust said people she personally knew who attended the rally later described events differently than national media accounts, noting, “I have friends who were there and their story of what happened is very different than what I was watching on the news.”
Leahy agreed, describing his own concerns at the time that violence could erupt around the Capitol. Haust added that counter-protest activity and provocateurs had become common in politically charged demonstrations.
“To stir up trouble with counter protests and all kinds of things,” she said.
Before discussing Attkisson’s investigative clips, Haust praised Attkisson’s journalism and recounted meeting her years earlier at a conference in Las Vegas. Haust said reading Attkisson’s books deepened her admiration for the former CBS News correspondent.
Calling Attkisson “extremely honest,” Haust said the reporter’s independence from legacy media gave credibility to the January 6 investigation being discussed on-air.
The clips played during the segment featured Attkisson narrating findings from what was described as a year-long investigation into January 6. The report questioned whether undercover government agents or informants were present among the crowd and whether some individuals actively encouraged violence.
The segment cited a Rasmussen Reports survey showing many voters believed undercover agents “likely helped provoke the riots.” It also revisited testimony from federal officials who declined to provide specifics about confidential human sources present that day.
The report highlighted video from activist John Sullivan, identified in the segment as a Black Lives Matter supporter who entered the Capitol while posing as a Trump supporter. In footage discussed during the broadcast, Sullivan was allegedly heard encouraging aggressive actions while filming inside the building.
Attkisson’s report also included interviews with former federal agent John Dodson and former FBI special agent Stephen Friend. The two men explained standard procedures governing undercover operations and informants during potentially volatile demonstrations.
One clip emphasized that undercover operatives are not supposed to incite violence or encourage otherwise law-abiding citizens to commit crimes.
The report further alleged that some apparent instigators were seen emerging from behind police lines, briefly interacting with officers, and then reentering the crowd before confrontations escalated.
After the clips aired, Haust said the investigation confirmed suspicions many conservatives had held for years.
“Not surprised at all. We all knew that those instigators were there,” she said.
She pointed specifically to individuals allegedly seen at prior Antifa and Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
“There were people with bullhorns that had been seen at other Antifa-type rallies, BLM rallies that were in the crowd and encouraging people to break windows and break into the Capitol,” she added.
Haust argued that extensive footage exists documenting such behavior.
“There’s hours and hours of footage and we’ve only seen some of it actually hit the news and I think that’s criminal,” she argued, going on to criticize federal officials for refusing to fully answer congressional questions about confidential human sources.
Haust said lawmakers overseeing federal agencies deserved complete transparency.
Another major focus of the conversation involved police deployment and security failures at the Capitol.
Leahy argued that experienced law enforcement officials typically prevent violence by establishing overwhelming police presence and clear separation between opposing groups. Haust agreed and said the visible lack of preparation appeared intentional.
“The whole thing just reeks of a corrupt setup, just a really bad situation,” she said, going on to reference videos allegedly showing officers directing people through entrances.
“The ones who were there were opening the doors and allowing people in,” she added.
The pair also discussed former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11). Haust argued Pelosi rejected opportunities to increase security ahead of the rally.
“We know, again, video evidence and otherwise, that Nancy Pelosi made every attempt whatsoever to keep the police count low,” she said. “She was given an opportunity, and actually was begged by Donald Trump himself, to bring in additional support. And she did refuse.”
Haust said proper security measures would have included a larger perimeter and National Guard presence.
As the discussion continued, Haust said she believed the events required significant coordination and planning.
“It absolutely had to be an operation,” she said.
Haust also questioned the timing of the breach and argued demonstrators were encouraged to act despite Trump’s public statement urging supporters to protest “peacefully and patriotically.”
“Clearly it was a plan,” she said, also rejecting the characterization of January 6 as an insurrection. “Calling it an insurrection, come on. The PR campaign was already put together.”
“I think they thought that they were doing something bigger and to end Trump’s career forever and end the MAGA movement,” she added
Tune in now to The Michael Patrick Leahy Show – your AMERICA FIRST news talk!
– Watch LIVE here on X
– Watch LIVE on YouTube / Rumble / Roku / AppleTV
– Listen on Spotify
– Listen on WENO AM760 in Nashville
– Read more at @TheTNStarhttps://t.co/EELTkKRokf— Michael Patrick Leahy (@michaelpleahy) May 19, 2026
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Image Sharyl Attkisson: Full Measure” by Sharyl Attkisson.
