Kevin McCarthy Under Fire from Both Parties for Granting Tucker Carlson Exclusive Access to Capitol Riot Footage

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has come under fire from both Democrats and Republican Senate leaders for granting Fox News’ Tucker Carlson exclusive access to more than 40,000 hours of security footage from the Capitol riot on January 6th. The footage was used by Carlson to downplay the attack as a peaceful tourist visit, despite the fact that it was an attempted insurrection by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

McCarthy defended his decision to give the footage to Carlson, saying that he wanted to ensure transparency. He told reporters Tuesday evening that he does not regret his decision, despite the criticism from his GOP colleagues.

The White House has also joined the criticism of Carlson, slamming him on Wednesday for spreading lies about the Capitol riot. They argued that Carlson used select footage to misrepresent the attack and its severity.

Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund also spoke out against Carlson’s segment, saying that it was “very concerning” that Carlson was given access to the footage. Sund said that it was important for people to be able to see the footage to understand the severity of the attack.

It remains to be seen if McCarthy will face any repercussions for his decision to give Carlson exclusive access to the footage. However, the criticism from both Democrats and Republicans alike shows that there is a strong desire for transparency and accountability in the wake of the Capitol riot.