McCarthy Targeted With Ethics Complaint After Handing Over Jan. 6 Footage to Tucker Carlson

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (Republican from California) was subject to an ethics complaint by a watchdog organization. The group accused McCarthy of being politically motivated when Tucker Carlson received Jan. 6 footage.

Public Citizen members, left-leaning nonprofit consumer advocacy group, wrote a letter to (pdf) on Tuesday You can find more information here the Office of Congressional Ethics and requested “an investigation into the recent exclusive release” to “a single news outlet of confidential records obtained by the House Select Committee.” They described the U.S. Capitol’s breach on Jan. 6, 2021 as “an attack” “attack” An earlier version of this article was available. “insurrection.”

They include Norman Eisen, Obama’s ambassador during the Obama era and first Trump impeachment attorney; Richard Painter who was a Bush White House ethics advisor; Craig Holman and Lisa Gilbert. The members expressed concern that Carlson might use footage for what they called an “anti-democratic agenda”. “inaccurate story of events” January 6.

“Without full public access to the complete historical record, there is concern that an ideologically-based narrative of an already polarizing event will take hold in the public consciousness, with destabilizing risks to the legitimacy of Congress, the Capitol Police, and the various federal investigations and prosecutions of Jan. 6 crimes,” Their letter was stated.

McCarthy’s decision, they claimed, is only. “partisan gamesmanship” It is also the “very type of polarizing gamesmanship that has caused such damage to the public’s perception of the integrity of Congress.”

“It was wrong for Speaker McCarthy to provide this footage to one organization that happens to be politically aligned with him and not release the videos to the media generally at the same time,” The letter was added. “This is not like granting an exclusive interview; this is providing a valuable government resource exclusively to one news outlet and discriminating against others, which flies in the face of First Amendment values.”

McCarthy gave Carlson the footage after GOP lawmakers demanded that the party leader release it. McCarthy replied that he was going to release the footage. McCarthy also said that the public had the right to see Jan. 6, and added that the Democrat-dominated House subcommittee that investigated the breach was biased.

McCarthy and Rep. Barry Loudermilk, a top Republican, have both indicated that the footage would be made available to the public and other media outlets within the next few weeks. However, it is not known when exactly. Many corporate news outlets demanded the footage be released to Congress in letters.

He also stated that journalists and news organizations are not all equal. “jealous” Carlson. “That’s interesting because every person in the press works off exclusives on certain things,” McCarthy spoke to the Washington Post recently in an interview.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Lead Hakeem Jeffries D-N.Y. have criticized McCarthy for releasing footage to Carlson. Both said that the footage would threaten U.S. Capitol security as well as national security.

Carlson published Monday’s footage from the Jan. 6, breach. It revealed that Capitol Police officers were present to assist. “QAnon Shaman” Jacob Chansley is currently in federal prison. He was caught amongst the chaos. The footage shows that Chansley was allowed to enter the Capitol through the doors.

Another clip was released on Monday, featuring U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. He could be seen walking about and telling protesters to get out of the building. Carlson claimed that video provides more proof that Sicknick didn’t die in Jan. 6 protests, and rejected claims that Sicknick was killed.

Fox News host Michael Moore indicated, however that he plans to release more footage in the coming weeks.

McCarthy’s office has been contacted by The Epoch Times for comment.