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February 20, 2023

Thompson Releases Statement on Reports Speaker McCarthy Granted Tucker Carlson Access to Sensitive January 6th U.S. Capitol Surveillance Footage

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and former Chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, released the below statement regarding news reports indicating that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has given Fox Host Tucker Carlson exclusive access to thousands of hours of sensitive U.S. Capitol surveillance footage from the January 6th Attack on the Capitol:

"When the Select Committee obtained access to U.S. Capitol Police video footage, it was treated with great sensitivity given concerns about the security of lawmakers, staff, and the Capitol complex. Access was limited to members and a small handful of investigators and senior staff, and the public use of any footage was coordinated in advance with Capitol Police. It’s hard to overstate the potential security risks if this material were to be used irresponsibly.

“If Speaker McCarthy has indeed granted Tucker Carlson – a Fox host who routinely spreads misinformation and Putin’s poisonous propaganda – and his producers access to this sensitive footage, he owes the American people an explanation of why he has done so and what steps he has taken to address the significant security concerns at stake.”

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