Republican defends Mike Johnson's decision to release January 6 footage
The January 6 riot has long been described by Democrats as "an insurrection" intended "to attack democracy itself."
Yet footage released earlier this month by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) suggests that rather than being criminals, some of those who stormed the Capitol were actually undercover law enforcement.
Officer tells colleague that he goes "undercover as Antifa"
Leading Report noted how one clip shows a plain-clothed officer telling an officer in uniform that he and his colleagues "go undercover as Antifa."
BREAKING: Jan. 6 body cam video of a Metro D.C. police officer telling his fellow colleague, “We go undercover as antifa in a crowd," has been confirmed authentic by Just the News. pic.twitter.com/R57Io6Nbzi
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) November 22, 2023
Meanwhile, RedState and Newsweek contributor Jeff Charles Jr. posted another video to the social media platform previously known as Twitter.
In it, two officers can be seen escorting what appears to be a handcuffed rioter. However, one of the officers promptly unlocks the man's handcuffs, who then proceeds to give the other officer a fist bump.
Capitol Police take supposed J6er aside, remove his handcuffs, then give him a fist bump.
Now, why would they do this?
Hmmmmm. pic.twitter.com/RFnfKwEB2s
— Jeff Charles, An Awful Pundit🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) November 18, 2023
Republican slams "unbelievable amount of misinformation"
Johnson has been criticized for making the footage public, with some alleging that his decision will create security threats.
However, The Hill reported that House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner defended Johnson's move during a Sunday interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker.
"It’s important for Americans to know the truth. This has been fraught with an unbelievable amount of misinformation and untruths," The Hill quoted Turner as saying.
"When you see the footage yourself, it’s going to give you an understanding of what was there and what occurred that day," he continued.
"Now people can see the truth"
"Because we’re currently only depending on really partisan descriptions of what happened. Now the American people can see," the Ohio Republican went on to insist.
Welker at one point asked Turner if he is "comfortable with, for example, [Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA)] posting, suggesting that this was an inside job by the Capitol Police?"
Turner responded that Welker would "have to talk to Marjorie Taylor Greene about that," before adding, "But what I will say is I think it’s important that the Speaker has taken this step because now people can see the truth."
