House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced that he intends to release all security footage recorded during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots so that "the public" can see "what Nancy Pelosi did" and how she "politicized" the events:
I think the public should see what happened that day. I watched what Nancy Pelosi did, where she politicized it. Where for the first time in the history as a speaker, not allowing the minority to appoint to a committee, to pick and choose. We watched the politicization of this. I think the American public should actually see all what happened instead of a report that’s written for a political basis.
Speaker McCarthy promises to release all of the security footage from January 6 pic.twitter.com/WgBYhSYRxZ
- Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) January 12, 2023
Republicans demand the footage be made public
House Republicans have long demanded the release of the Jan. 6 security footage. In August 2022, a group of 23 GOP lawmakers sent a letter to Capitol Police Board Chairman William J. Walker arguing that the release of the tapes was "is absolutely essential to proper governance and truth.”
Representative Matt Gaetz, who also signed the letter, thanked McCarthy after the announcement:
Thank you to the 20 patriots who helped EARN this commitment from the Speaker.
Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthy for affirming this commitment you made.
Keeping promises is how trust is built.
I'm growing more optimistic by the day! https://t.co/uYAaT5sG0f
- Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) January 12, 2023
However, a Capitol Police spokesman commented to The Washington Times that the release of the footage "would ultimately be up to the Capitol Police Board."
The video has been designated security information and is therefore protected from public disclosure. Releasing it would ultimately be up to the Capitol Police Board and not the Department.
