Appearing on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” McCarthy said he would “slowly roll out to each news agency” access to the same trove, so that “they can see the tapes, too.”
Carlson argued last week that “the footage does not show an insurrection or riot” by a crowd of Donald Trump supporters. He said that only a “small percentage” of those involved were “hooligans”, while the “vast majority” of those who entered the Capitol were “not rebels”. They were visionaries” who “gave each other tours outside the speaker’s office” and took “cheerful selfies”.
“They’re not destroying the Capitol,” Carlson said. “They clearly respect the Capitol.”
Carlsen has also spread a wider range conspiracy theories And made racist statements About white people being replaced by minorities.
McCarthy said on Sunday that he had released the footage to Carlson in the name of transparency and accountability. He then compared the attack on the Capitol to the protests following the killing of George Floyd in police custody. McCarthy said that he had seen federal courthouses and cities burning, and “nobody was arrested there.”
The show’s host, Maria Bartiromo, appeared to support Carlson’s portrayal of the January 6 attack, saying she saw people being “escorted by police inside the Capitol”. that day “Was quite amazing.” McCarthy nodded in agreement.
McCarthy’s decision and Carlsen’s description of the day have been widely criticized. law enforcement officer And parliamentarians in both the parties.
The siege resulted in the deaths of at least seven people, attacks on at least 174 police officers, and over $2.7 billion in damage. reports From the Government Accountability Office.
Justice Department recently said More than 999 people who were involved in the January 6 riots have been arrested in nearly all 50 states and DC on charges such as assault, entering a restricted federal building, destruction of government property and conspiracy. About half have admitted their guilt; According to a government statement on the rebellion, around 220 have been sentenced to prison and 100 to house arrest.
US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said a memo told his department last week that Carlson’s show was “filled with outrageous and misleading inferences.” Manger also said that Carlson and his producers did not ask for references or comment from the Capitol Police before showing them the surveillance video.
Afterwards, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Q.) presented a copy of Manger’s memo to reporters and said, “I find myself completely in agreement with the Chief of Capitol Police’s opinion about what happened on January 6th.” want to add.” (McConnell also clarified that he was criticizing how Carlson portrayed Jan. 6, not having access to the video.)
On Saturday night, former Vice President Mike Pence said that many lives were in danger on January 6 and that Trump was to blame. In a speech In Washington, Pence said Trump’s “reckless words that day put my family and everyone at the Capitol in danger. And I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”
Representative Nancy Mays (RS.C.) said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that “every media outlet” and “every defense attorney” should have access to the video McCarthy provided to Carlson Was. Mays criticized Carlsen’s undercutting of the attack, saying that “there was violence that day. You can’t deny it.”
Sen. Kevin Cramer (RN.D.) said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that he also disagreed with calling the uprising peaceful.
Cramer told host Chuck Todd, “You know, a four-hour march to the Capitol that’s marred by a half-hour of rioting doesn’t make it a peaceful protest.” But he also called for moving on from the debate. “Chuck, what frustrates me most is that we’re talking about this again.”