House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has given Tucker Carlson unfettered access to 41,000 hours of videotape from Jan. 6, 2021, Axios reports.
The trove of tapes has been in the hands of Fox News’ #1 personality since early February, and Americans should expect Carlson to feature clips on his evening show in the coming weeks, according to PJ Media.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) – who stood by McCarthy during a dramatic battle for the speakership – took to Twitter to celebrate the news, writing, “For all of you that doubted we would release the tapes. Here you go!”
“I’m very happy to be right again in my support for Kevin McCarthy as our Speaker. Americans deserve to see the truth, not a one-sided narrative and unfair two-tiered justice system,” she continued.
For all of you that doubted we would release the tapes.
Here you go!
I’m very happy to be right again in my support for Kevin McCarthy as our Speaker.
Americans deserve to see the truth, not a one sided narrative and unfair two tiered justice system.https://t.co/EkVvbTwxcP
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) February 20, 2023
“The View” host Joy Behar took offense to the news, wondering why McCarthy didn’t hand the footage over to a left-wing media outlet.
Joy Behar on McCarthy giving Tucker footage from January 6: "Why didn't he give it to the New York Times?" pic.twitter.com/fkDg1qctM1
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) February 22, 2023
Carlson has vehemently disagreed with the mainstream assertion that January 6 was an insurrection, instead calling the event an example of vandalism.
“You know it tells you a lot about the priorities of a ruling class that the rest of us are getting yet another lecture about January 6th tonight from our moral inferiors, no less,” Tucker said during a June 2022 segment.
“An outbreak of mob violence, a forgettably minor outbreak by recent standards, that took place more than a year and a half ago, but they’ve never stopped talking about it.”
A former senior member and spokesman for the House January 6 committee, Tim Mulvey, expressed his concerns about McCarthy’s move, saying there aren’t “enough security protections embedded,” according to Axios.
“When the January 6th Select Committee obtained access to U.S. Capitol Police video footage, it was treated with great sensitivity given concerns about the security of lawmakers, staff, and the Capitol complex,” Mulvey told Axios.
“Access was limited to members and a small handful of investigators and senior staff, and the public use of any footage was coordinated in advance with Capitol Police. It’s hard to overstate the potential security risks if this material were used irresponsibly,” Mulvey continued.
