Fox News host Tucker Carlson has been heavily criticized by Capitol Police, Democratic lawmakers, and some Republicans this week.

The White House criticized Tucker Carlson Wednesday in an unusual rebuke of the late-night, commentator who was broadcasting false images of the January 6, 2021 attack this week.

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Edited by |Christian Megan

North America. section -CJ journalist

New York – March 9, 2023

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Carlson, given access to about 40,000 hours of US Capitol security camera footage by Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, has aired carefully selected clips to portray the pro-Trump mob as peaceful patriots. Carlson falsely claimed that the footage provided “conclusive” evidence that Democrats and the House select committee that investigated January 6 lied to Americans about the day’s events.

According to the Justice Department, 140 officers were assaulted at the Capitol that day, including 60 Metropolitan Police officers and 80 US Capitol Police officers.

“We agree with the chief of the Capitol Police and the wide range of bipartisan lawmakers who have condemned this false depiction of the unprecedented, violent attack on our Constitution and the rule of law – which cost police officers their lives,” Bates said. “We also agree with what Fox News’s own attorneys and executives have now repeatedly stressed in multiple courts of law: That Tucker Carlson is not credible.”

Successfully defending Carlson in a 2020 libel lawsuit, attorneys for Fox News argued that he engages repeatedly in rhetorical hyperbole and opinion.

“To have said what he said, when we when we saw Capitol Police officers lose their lives or police officers lose their lives is just – it’s just shameful,” Jean-Pierre said.

Although Carlson claimed he had Capitol Police review footage before airing it, multiple sources on Capitol Hill told CNN that Carlson’s show provided only one clip to review and not the others. The Capitol Police has continuously warned that the release of all security footage from the Capitol could pose a potential security risk for the building.

US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said Carlson selected favorable clips to mislead his audience about the attack. The manager called Carlson’s depictions of the events “offensive.”

The manager added that Carlson’s show didn’t reach out to the police department “to provide accurate context.”

Carlson was the subject of several damning documents released as part of Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox that appeared to show Carlson holds opposite views of what he tells his audience. Included in court filings in the defamation case was a series of private text message in which Carlson said he “passionately” hates former President Donald Trump.

In one November 2020 exchange, Carlson said Trump’s post-election behavior was “disgusting.” And in another text message conversation, two days before the January 6 attack, Carlson said, “We are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights. I truly can’t wait.” He added: “I hate him passionately.”