Donald Trump has called for the release of all January 6 prisoners after Tucker Carlson unveiled new footage, which he says sheds new light on the 2021 unrest at the US Capitol.
“Congratulations to Tucker Carlson on one of the greatest ‘scoops’ as a journalist in US history,” Trump wrote on social media,
“The new surveillance video of the events of January 6 sheds an entirely different light on what really happened. The De-Selection Board was a giant scam and has now been unequivocally labeled as the CRIMINAL MAKER OF THIS MOST MAJOR DAY. .. LET THEM GO FREE, NOW!”
In footage shown on his show Monday night, self-styled QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley was seen apparently being escorted to the Senate by Capitol police officers.
Carlson suggested it challenged the mainstream narrative that Chansley – jailed for four years over the incident – aggressively stormed into the bedroom.
On Tuesday morning, the former president claimed on Truth Social that the Capitol rioters behind bars had been “convicted or awaiting trial, based on a giant lie.”
Former President Donald Trump demands that all prisoners convicted of crimes on January 6, 2021 be released based on images released by Tucker Carlson
Former President Donald Trump says then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are responsible for security breaches on January 6, 2021.
Chansley is seen being followed through the Capitol by a police officer
Chansley, with his megaphone, is seen Jan. 6, 2021 inside the Capitol
“A crook of the radical left. Thanks to Tucker Carlson and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy for what you both have done,” Trump continued.
“The new video footage is irrefutable.”
After Carlson’s show, Trump also called for the Jan. 6 “Unselect” committee to be prosecuted for being “criminal fabricators” and said Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell “failed on security.”
Footage of Capitol cop Brian Sicknick, who died shortly after the riot, was also released.
It was initially suggested that Sicknick’s death occurred following an attack with a fire extinguisher and pepper spray by rioters.
But a medical examiner later ruled he died of natural causes. And Carlson shared footage of Sicknick walking around the Capitol after the attack.
He appeared in good health, which the Fox News host said poured cold water on the liberal media’s insistence that the Capitol rioters had Sicknick’s blood on their hands.
He also referenced Ray Epps, who was seen among the rioters urging them to storm the Capitol but was never charged, leading to speculation that Epps was an informant. Epps denied working for the government.
On Monday, Carlson suggested Epps was lying.
“They were orderly and gentle,” Carlson said of those who stormed the Capitol. “They weren’t insurgents; they were tourists.
Carlson said they “obviously revere the Capitol,” noting that they took selfies and “queued in neat little lines.”
“Deadly insurrection. Everything in that sentence is a lie,” he said. “Very little about January 6 was organized or violent.”
“The surveillance video from inside the Capitol shows mostly peaceful chaos.”
Carlson pointed to footage showing the “QAnon Shaman” — a shirtless Jacob Chansley wearing a Viking helmet — inside the Capitol.
Chansley, a 33-year-old Navy veteran from Arizona, was one of the most high-profile figures to enter the Capitol on Jan. 6.
He was imprisoned for almost four years for “obstructing official process”.
In the footage, Chansley appears to be guided by an official as he wanders around the Capitol.
He passes a line of riot police, who make no move to stop him.
Afterwards, they escort him to various entrances to the chamber, which appear to be locked, and eventually find him an open door through which he disappears.
“Virtually every moment of his time inside the Capitol was recorded,” Carlson said.
“Records show that Capitol Police never arrested Jacob Chansley. They helped him. They acted as his tour guides.
Carlson also showed the moments after Constable Brian Sicknick was confronted by rioters.
Sicknick, 42, died on January 7 – the day after the riot.
Brian Sicknick is seen shortly after the Capitol breakthrough. Carlson said he looked “healthy and vigorous”
Sicknick, who died of a stroke on January 7, is seen during the riot in the line of duty
Capitol rioter Julian Khater (pictured left) was sentenced to 80 months in prison for his role in the pepper spray assault on police officer Brian Sicknick (pictured right), who died the day after the Jan. 6 riot 2021. Tucker Carlson has now shared footage showing Sicknick looking healthy after the attack he suffered
In April 2021, DC’s medical examiner ruled that Sicknick, who was injured while confronting rioters, suffered a stroke and died of natural causes.
“To this day, the media portrays Sicknick as someone who was, in quotes, ‘killed’ on January 6th,” Carlson said.
“The video we reviewed proves that to be a lie.”
Carlson said the officer was “healthy and vigorous” and noted he was wearing a helmet.
“So it’s hard to imagine that he was killed by a head injury,” he said.
“What happened to Brian Sicknick is obviously not the result of the abuse he suffered at the entrance to the Capitol.
“This tape undoes the most powerful and politically useful lie Democrats have told us about Jan. 6.”
There were several riot-related deaths, including four Trump supporters — one of whom, Ashli Babbitt, was shot by Capitol police.
Trump supporters walk through the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Carlson described them as “tourists”
Carlson further suggested that alleged Capitol Rioter Ray Epps – pictured with a red Trump cap – was actually an FBI agent sent in to stir up violence. Epps denies his allegations
Four officers died by suicide in the days and weeks following the riot.
There were also around 1,000 arrests.
The footage comes as Fox News continues to challenge a $1.6 billion lawsuit filed against the broadcasting giant by Dominion, which made voting machines for the 2020 election.
Fox is being sued over allegations that the network endorsed theories that the company’s voting machines were rigged to deliver a victory for Biden.
Broadcaster owner Rupert Murdoch was recently deposed following the lawsuit and said he “wishes (Fox) had been stronger in exposing” the stolen election claims.
Fox News denies claims made against it by Dominion.
