House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced his plans to release thousands of hours of footage from the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. This decision fulfills a promise Johnson made to far-right members of his party during his campaign for the role. The release of this footage will allow millions of Americans, criminal defendants, public interest organizations, and the media to see firsthand what transpired on that fateful day.
The first installment of the security footage, approximately 90 hours, will be made available on a public committee website on Friday, with the remaining 44,000 hours expected to be released over the next few months. Additionally, a public viewing room will be established in the Capitol for individuals to view the footage.
Previously, the video footage had only been accessible by appointment to members of the media, criminal defendants, and a select few others. The footage captures the intense fighting and provides a comprehensive view of the Capitol complex, offering a perspective rarely seen by visitors. It reveals the violent actions of President Donald Trump’s supporters as they stormed the building, attacking police officers and forcibly entering through windows and doors.
By opening up access to the general public, Johnson is honoring his commitment to the conservative members of his party, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, who played a significant role in the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Both Gaetz and Trump applauded Johnson’s decision, with Trump expressing his congratulations on his Truth Social platform.
However, concerns have been raised about the potential implications of releasing such sensitive and explicit security footage. Critics argue that it could jeopardize the safety of staff and members within the Capitol complex if it falls into the wrong hands. The hours of footage not only depict the shocking assault on U.S. Capitol Police but also reveal how the rioters gained access to the building and the paths taken by lawmakers to seek safety.
To address these concerns, Johnson has assured that the committee is taking measures to blur the faces of individuals in the footage, thereby protecting them from potential retaliation. Approximately 5% of the footage will not be publicly released due to its involvement with sensitive security information related to the building architecture.
Previously, images and videos of the Capitol attack circulated widely, shared by documentarians, news organizations, and even the rioters themselves. However, until now, officials had withheld much of the surveillance video from the numerous security cameras positioned in and around the Capitol.
In February, McCarthy granted Tucker Carlson, then a Fox News host, exclusive access to the footage, a move that Democrats condemned as a significant breach of security. Carlson aired the footage on his show, attempting to shape the narrative surrounding the violent siege to favor Trump.
This recent release of footage is part of a larger Republican effort to redefine the narrative surrounding the deadly insurrection following the House Jan. 6 committee’s findings. The committee, consisting of seven Democrats and two Republicans, meticulously documented, through testimonies and video evidence, how Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell” while Congress was certifying his loss to Joe Biden.
The committee’s final report, released in December, concluded that Trump had engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 presidential election and failed to intervene to prevent his supporters from attacking the Capitol.
The committee forwarded their investigation to the Justice Department, recommending that federal prosecutors investigate Trump for four crimes, including aiding an insurrection. In August, Trump was indicted on four felony counts for his role in the attack, with the Justice Department accusing him of assaulting the fundamental principles of democracy.
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to release the Jan. 6 footage marks a significant step toward transparency and allows the public to witness the events of that day firsthand.
