Yes.
First, as you said, he exposed that "pure, unadulterated crap".
But secondly, and the far more egregious sin on his part (in the eyes of the Left) was exposing them to open, deserved, and unreserved ridicule.
Leftists do many things, but one thing they are incapable of doing is to tolerate ridcule, of which they are so deserving.
It makes them mad with rage, and they were in a position to inflict injury on these intrepid reporters...which they did.
I also heard someone say (and I agree) the researchers were attacked for so obviously enjoying the excellent job they did, which compounded the insult to the Left, and the magnitude of their response.
Thanks for the expansion. You hit the nail on the head.