These GOP Leaders Have Turned on Tucker Carlson

These GOP Leaders Have Turned on Tucker Carlson
  • Tucker Carlson aired January 6 footage on his show after Speaker McCarthy gave him 41,000 hours of tape.
  • Carlson described the riots as “peaceful.”
  • Republicans lashed out at the television host for allegedly lying.
  • The Capitol police chief called the Fox News host a liar.

(NewsReady.com) – House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) set off a firestorm when he handed over 41,000 hours of footage taken at the Capitol Building on January 6 to Tucker Carlson. The Fox News host had long hounded the federal government for access to it. There are rumors that one of the deals the California congressman made to become the leader of the lower chamber was to release all of that footage.

McCarthy ignored the outcry from the Left and the media and handed over the video anyway. He explained that he would eventually allow the other media organizations to access the footage, but for now, he is giving Carlson the exclusive. The Fox News host aired some of the clips last week, and his commentary caused some Republicans to lash out.

Carlson Airs Footage

On Monday, March 6, Carlson aired the first installment of the January 6 footage. He chose clips that showed groups of the people who broke into the Capitol walking around slowly. In other clips, the Fox News host said some of the rioters were being escorted by the police.

Carlson also aired clips of an officer he claimed was Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.  The police officer, who was attacked and sprayed with chemical irritants during the event, was apparently walking as if nothing happened.

Sicknick died a day later, and the media blamed the January 6 rioters for his death. Carlson said the video proved that was a lie. Originally, the media had blamed those who were there that day for the officer’s death, but the medical examiner stated he’d died of natural causes after suffering two strokes. Francisco J. Diaz, the chief medical examiner who performed the autopsy, told The Washington Post the events of the day played a role in his death.

Carlson described the protesters who entered the Capitol as “peaceful” and slammed the narrative Democrats have spun in recent years. Not everyone agrees with him, though.

Republican Backlash

After Carlson aired the footage, Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger sent out a memo criticizing the cable host. The Washington Post stated the chief’s memo denounced the show as “filled with offensive and misleading conclusions.” He was especially angry about the remarks about Sicknick, saying the department believes that if the officer had not been fighting for hours on January 6, then he might not have suffered the strokes.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) also condemned Carlson for his claims. He said it was a “mistake” for Fox to air the footage and make remarks that were at odds with what the police chief said happened that day.

CBS News reported Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) summed up the Fox News’ host’s take on the riots as “bulls**t.”

Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said that depicting the day’s events “as permitted protest is just a lie.” He went on to say those who participated in the events should be held responsible because they weren’t just “rowdy […] Boy Scouts.”

Copyright 2023, NewsReady.com

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