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A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers criticized Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s downplaying of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots in a segment Monday that featured the conservative pundit via Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) tapes provided by Fox were included, as Fox prepared to continue the release. footage of the attacks.

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Several Republican senators criticized the characterization of Carlson as “demolishing” the footage provided by McCarthy. , , claims January 6th was an insurrection,” while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sharply rebuked the clause on the Senate floor on Tuesday.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (RN.D.) said comparing the rebellion to a protest is “just a fallacy” and Sen. Thom Tillis (RN.C.) called Carlson’s framing “bull-t.” CNN reported.

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Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Mike Rounds (SD), and John Thune (SD) also rejected Carlson’s statement, with Thune telling CNN: “There were a lot of people in the Capitol at the time who were fighting for their lives.” Were scared.”

Schumer began Tuesday’s Senate session by calling it “one of the most embarrassing hours we’ve ever seen on cable television,” and criticized McCarthy for engaging in a “treacherous, treacherous game” in reference to McCarthy’s deal. with his right-wing opponents during the January speaker election for releasing the tapes in return for his support.

Schumer also asked Fox News Chairman Rupert Murdoch to halt the release of future segments.

important quotes

“Speaker McCarthy is every bit as culpable as Mr. Carlson. Speaker McCarthy's decision to share security footage with Fox seemed like a mistake from the start, but after last night it looks like a disaster," Schumer said.

main background

Carlson showed footage aired Monday of convicted rioter Jacob Chansley, known as the "Q'on Shaman," as well as photos of Capitol Police Officer Brian Siknik, who died a day after responding to the attack. McCarthy released Carlson for the last time amid 41,000 hours of tape. month. Carlson said during the segment, "The footage does not show a mutiny or a riot in progress." "Instead it shows police escorting people through the building, including the now infamous 'Qon Shaman'." who works on Capitol Hill," he wrote a letter for Senate Democrats last week. According to the Government Accountability Office, Siknik's death was one of several deaths linked to the January 6 Capitol riot, while approximately 114 police officers are estimated to have been injured.

tangent line

While Carlson defended the rioters in Monday's segment, saying he was "right" to believe that "the election he just voted in was unfairly conducted," his private But there are disputed claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. That's according to allegations made by Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation case against Fox. Court papers filed last month by the company claim that Carlson called conspiracy theories involving the Dominion machines "crazy" and "absurd" despite promoting them on Fox News.

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McCarthy said last month the tapes would eventually be made public, though it was unclear when. McCarthy pledged that they should also have access to the security footage, amid demands from other news organizations.

Tucker Carlson doubles down on 2020 election fraud claims with January 6 footage despite Fox defamation lawsuit (Forbes)

McCarthy: January 6 tapes released to Tucker Carlson will be made public (Forbes)

Speaker McCarthy gave Tucker Carlson 41,000 hours of January 6 footage (Forbes)