Last Updated on March 8, 2023
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined a handful of his Republican Senate colleagues in condemning Fox News host Tucker Carlson over the release of January 6 footage that contradicts many leftist and federal government narratives on the day’s events. Civil liberties activists have long called for the release of the more than 41,000 hours of footage, which the January 6 subcommittee refused to release, instead opting to air select clips.
While speaking at a GOP Senate news conference, McConnell chastised Carlson and said he stands with the U.S. Capitol Police and their assessment of the protest and small riot. “I want to associate myself entirely with the opinion of the chief and the Capitol Police about what happened on Jan. 6,” McConnell said while holding up a letter sent to the U.S. Capitol Police force by Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger. “It was a mistake, in my view, for Fox News to depict this in a way that’s completely at variance with what our chief law enforcement official here at the Capitol thinks,” the Senate minority leader continued.
Manger’s letter contained numerous debunked claims, including the massive lie that Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick was murdered by the crowd. The long-debunked claim was even further discredited during Carlson’s footage drop on Monday night, in which the officer could be seen freely walking around after his supposed “death” at the hands of the crowd.
BREAKING: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell calls it a "mistake" for Tucker Carlson and Fox News to release the never-before-seen J6 footage. pic.twitter.com/8d2c75Z3eK
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 7, 2023
A handful of other Senate Republicans rushed to condemn Carlson and speak out in support of framing the day’s events as an “insurrection” while supporting the federal government crackdown on protesters.
“I think its bull****,” said Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) in response to Carlson’s framing. “I was here. I was down there, and I saw maybe a few tourists, a few people who got caught up in things,” he added. “But when you see police barricades breached, when you see police officers assaulted, all of that … if you were just a tourist you should’ve probably lined up at the visitors’ center and came in on an orderly basis.”
The North Carolina Senator went on to say that Carlson’s framing was “inexcusable.”
Republican Senator Thom Tillis reacts to Tucker Carlson releasing never before seen J6 footage:
"I think it's bullsh*t."
Welcome to the DC Uniparty. pic.twitter.com/jenVBLeYxH
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 7, 2023
Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) also joined in on the condemnation of Carlson. “I think that breaking through glass windows and doors to get into the United States Capitol against the borders of police is a crime. I think particularly when you come into the chambers, when you start opening the members’ desks, when you stand up in their balcony — to somehow put that in the same category as, you know, permitted peaceful protest is just a lie,” Cramer said.
“I think it doesn’t do any good for the narrative,” he added.
Senators Romney (R-UT), Graham (R-SC) and Thune (R-SD) have also condemned Carlson and rehashed Biden regime talking points.