While many have criticized the new Speaker of the House for his decision to give access to thousands of hours of security footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, US Capitol riots to Fox News host Tucker Carlson, the Speaker is defending his decision.
“I promised,” Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told the New York Times in an interview on Wednesday when asked about the decision.
McCarthy’s campaign sent a fundraising email on Wednesday that relayed the same message as what he said in the interview, noting that he promised he “would give you the truth regarding January 6th, and today I am delivering.”
Explaining the decision more in-depth with the Times, McCarthy said that the footage belongs to the American people so they can make their own decisions.
“I was asked in the press about these tapes, and I said they do belong to the American public,” McCarthy said. “I think sunshine lets everybody make their own judgment.”
McCarthy struggled to earn his spot as Speaker after more than a dozen losing ballots due to his party not budging on certain demands.
Among the demands made included the wider release of Jan. 6 footage, according to an interview Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) gave in January.
“Kevin McCarthy told us he’s going to get the evidence out in front of the American people, and that means releasing the 14,000 hours of tapes that have been hidden, that I think would give more full context of that day,” Gaetz said during an appearance on ‘The Charlie Kirk Show.’ “Part of this deal is a concession that we are going to get the truth out in front of the American people.”
While he has since been praised by Republicans in Congress and in the media alike, McCarthy is being criticized from across the aisle, as Democrats argue the release will impact Capitol security.
Among those taking shots at McCarthy are Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
Schumer, penned a letter saying that McCarthy “is needlessly exposing the Capitol complex to one of the worst security risks since 9/11.” He added that the footage could “allow those who want to commit another attack to learn how Congress is safeguarded.”
Jefferies referred to the decision as an “egregious security breach.”
“Giving someone as disingenuous as Tucker Carlson exclusive access to this type of sensitive information is a grave mistake by Speaker McCarthy that will only embolden supporters of the Big Lie and weaken faith in our democracy,” Schumer said in his letter.
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