Speaker Johnson to blur Jan. 6 footage to prevent retaliation

[RAY BOGAN]

House Speaker Mike Johnson is releasing footage of the January 6th 2021 riot at the US Capitol building to the public. But before he does, he’s having editors blur the faces of people in the footage. 

Here’s why he said he’s releasing the footage and blurring it. 

[Speaker Mike Johnson]

“We want transparency. We should demand it, the American people do. We trust, House Republicans trust people to draw their own conclusions. They should not be dictated by some narrative and accept that as fact. We have to blur some of the faces of some of the persons who participated in the events of that day because we don’t want them to be retaliated against and charged by the DOJ.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

Johnsons office later walked that comment back and clarified: “Faces are to be blurred from public viewing room footage to prevent all forms of retaliation against private citizens from any non-governmental actors. The Department of Justice already has access to raw footage from Jan. 6, 2021.” 

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene further explained their concerns with retaliation. 

[Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA]

“There’s a group called sedition hunters, that spends all of their time and resources and doxing these people. They find videos of them all over social media, any videos they can, and they use facial recognition software to identify them. Then they go to their employers, they go to their neighbors, and they go tell everyone and call them insurrectionists. Basically, intentionally ruining their lives.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

We also spoke with Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen who said he doesn’t have a problem with the footage being released because the country watched it live. Here’s what he said about blurring faces. 

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-TN:

“He’s trying to protect people who he thinks could be guilty. That’s not the role of the Speaker. It’s not the role of anybody really.”

[RAY BOGAN]

Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, who was a  member of the January 6th investigative committee addressed Johnson’s comments about accepting a narrative. 

Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-WY:

“Speaker Johnson is attempting to suggest there’s something in these tapes that would change the facts of what happened. There’s nothing in the tapes that can change the facts of what happened that day that can change the violent assault.” 

Johnson said his office hired additional staff members to get the tapes out quicker, but did not give an exact timeline. Straight from DC, I’m Ray Bogan.