House Republican leaders are pushing back against criticism over the release of surveillance footage documenting the Jan. 6 riot to Fox News host Tucker Carlson, vowing all video clips will be vetted before being aired on the network.
No video clips will be broadcast without security clearance, top Republicans said in response to Democrats’ accusations that the footage release would pose security concerns to the Capitol building. The pledge comes after Carlson touted “unfettered” access to more than 40,000 hours of surveillance footage recorded during the Capitol riot.
HOUSE GOP GIVING JAN. 6 DEFENDANTS ACCESS TO CAPITOL RIOT FOOTAGE
“We’re working through that,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told reporters on Tuesday. “We work with the Capitol Police as well, so we’ll make sure security is taken care of.”
McCarthy’s decision to give Carlson the footage came in response to demands from Republican lawmakers who pushed the party leader for weeks to release the video. News of the decision prompted an outcry among congressional Democrats, with several calling the move dangerous to national security.
“There’s certain parts that [Carlson] wanted to see,” McCarthy said, adding that the Fox News host’s crew did not request access to sensitive information such as exit routes. “They’re not interested in it. They don’t want to show that.”
McCarthy’s comments refer to footage previously released by the Jan. 6 committee that showed then-Vice President Mike Pence being escorted from the Senate chamber after rioters breached the Capitol building. The footage did not show Pence’s full exit route, and Democrats said the video clips were cleared with Capitol Police before they were aired publicly.
However, Republicans pushed back on those claims, accusing Democrats of publishing some footage that was not screened by law enforcement.
“There’s times when the Capitol Police told me that they didn’t consult with them either on some of these routes, so that’s a concern,” McCarthy said.
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McCarthy has repeatedly defended his decision to release footage to Carlson, noting the exchange fulfills a pledge he made during his bid for House speaker. He also argued the release was important to ensure a transparent investigation into the Capitol riot.
The House speaker also vowed to make the footage available to other news outlets once Carlson’s crew is finished sifting through it, but it’s unclear how long that may take. Carlson is expected to begin airing clips of the footage in the coming weeks.