Staff Reports
House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner has praised House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to release Capitol security footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, calling it a crucial step in uncovering the truth about that fateful day. In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Turner emphasized the importance of Americans seeing the footage for themselves, noting that the event has been clouded by “an unbelievable amount of misinformation and untruths.”
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, recently greenlit the release of over 40,000 hours of security footage, with the exception of about 5% of the footage that will be withheld due to sensitive security concerns. Turner lauded Johnson’s move, rebuffing host Kristen Welker’s inquiry about Republican colleagues allegedly cherry-picking the footage to fuel conspiracy theories. Turner argued that both sides have cherry-picked the footage, with the House Jan. 6 committee being singled out for their selective use of the footage.
House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner says Jan. 6 security tapes will help Americans ‘know the truth’https://t.co/wJPPFHb41H pic.twitter.com/XoqV78C7M8
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 28, 2023
The Democratic-led Jan. 6 committee has labeled the Capitol attack as a coup incited by former President Donald Trump, prompting backlash from some Republican lawmakers who are now calling for an investigation into the committee itself. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia has suggested that the riot was an inside job by the Capitol Police, a sentiment that Turner sidestepped while reiterating the importance of the public having access to the security footage.
Additionally, Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas and Sen. Mike Lee of Utah have voiced skepticism about the committee’s handling of the security footage, with Nehls deeming the committee a “sham” and calling for an investigation into its members. Lee accused two prominent committee figures, former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, of deliberately concealing the security footage and questioned the committee’s integrity.
The aftermath of the Capitol attack has seen over 1,100 individuals facing charges, with some receiving sentences of over 15 years. For instance, Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, the leader of the right-wing Proud Boys group, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison in connection to the events of that day.
This discourse highlights the ongoing partisan divide surrounding the Capitol attack and its aftermath, with Republicans questioning the motives and actions of the Jan. 6 committee while championing the release of the security footage as a crucial step in uncovering the truth.
