Speaker defends giving Carlson Jan. 6 access
Critics fear footage will be used for political ends
WASHINGTON – House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is defending his decision to give Fox News’ Tucker Carlson “exclusive” access to Jan. 6 security footage of the Capitol attack, despite the conservative commentator’s own work raising false claims and conspiracy theories about the 2021 riot.
McCarthy vowed Tuesday to eventually make roughly 42,000 hours of sensitive Capitol Police security videos available to the broader public “as soon as possible,” but made it clear the Fox News commentator had first dibs. McCarthy, R-Calif., is also supportive of giving access to some of the nearly 1,000 defendants being prosecuted for their roles in the siege.
“I don’t care what side of the issue you are on. That’s why I think putting it out all to the American public, you can see the truth. See exactly what transpired that day,” McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol.
“Have you ever had an exclusive? Because I see it on your networks all the time. So we have exclusive, then I’ll give it out to the entire country,” he said.
The speaker’s decision to release the mountains of police security footage has set off a firestorm at the Capitol over the way the images will be potentially used as a political tool to rewrite the history of that day. Fox News is facing new scrutiny in a separate court case over its airing of false claims about the 2020 election that Trump lost to Biden.
It’s also raising new concerns about sensitive security operations at the
Capitol. While video from the Jan. 6 riot has already widely aired as part of the public hearings last summer by the House committee investigating the attack, the number of hours of footage McCarthy is making available is three times what was first seen, from all corners of the Capitol complex.
“We are deeply concerned that the release of footage related to the Jan. 6 violent insurrection will reveal some security details that could create some challenges in terms of the safety and well-being of everyone on the Capitol Complex,” said Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
When McCarthy told fellow Republicans behind closed doors about his decision Tuesday, he was greeted with applause, according to a person who was familiar with the private conference meeting but unauthorized to speak about it publicly.
McCarthy insisted he was taking measures to ensure that security at the Capitol would not be jeopardized by the release.
The House Administration Committee’s subcommittee on oversight, which is chaired by Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., is making accommodations for any attorneys representing defendants who have asked to view the footage, the person familiar with the situation said.
Democrats on the panel said they were “deeply troubled” by McCarthy’s actions, warning that footage could expose security vulnerabilities, according to a report.
McCarthy repeatedly complained that other media outlets, including CNN, already had received exclusives to show video last year.