Op-ed by Elad Hakim | Photo: Alamy
When the Jan. 6 House Select Committee convened its first public hearing, committee members claimed that the evidence would establish a coordinated effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. According to a statement released by the committee at the time:
“The committee will present previously unseen material documenting January 6th, receive witness testimony, preview additional hearings, and provide the American people a summary of its findings of the coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of power.”
At least part of this statement was true. The committee presented unseen material relating to Jan. 6. However, based on recent and unredacted surveillance video footage of what transpired on Jan. 6, it appears that the committee selectively pieced together “material” to formulate a predetermined narrative and outcome to try to hurt President Trump and other Jan. 6 defendants.
More specifically, Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who was given access to over 40,000 hours of surveillance footage, shared a segment of a video from that day that painted a completely different picture of what occurred on Jan. 6.
While some on Twitter have already questioned Tucker’s credibility, Tucker’s credibility is not at issue because the surveillance video speaks for itself. In other words, Tucker and his crew did not shoot the video or edit the clip. Rather, the surveillance video was original in nature and accurately depicted what transpired on that day.
More importantly, the Jan. 6 committee did not present or disclose this video and others like it (including one relating to Senator Josh Hawley), to the American people. In the meantime, various people have been charged, tried, and incarcerated for their alleged involvement or participation in what the committee referred to as an insurrection.
For example, Jacob Chansley, the QAnon Shaman, was sentenced to 41 months in prison (after a plea agreement) although newly released video evidence shows that the police led Chansley around the Capitol the entire time that he was in the building.
Did Chansley’s attorneys have this potentially exculpatory evidence, as required by law? Mike Davis, founder and president of The Article III Project, recently discussed this with Steve Bannon on Real America’s Voice:
Why would the committee fail to present this “material” to the American people? What, exactly, was the committee’s goal? Was the committee, comprised of seven Democrats and two “Never Trumper” Republicans, hellbent on “getting” Trump at any cost? Along those same lines, why would the DOJ and attorneys fail to immediately turn over such material to defense attorneys if they knew of its existence, assuming they failed to do so?
Until now, many Americans saw the Jan. 6 hearing as nothing more than political theatre and a desperate attempt by the Democrats to hurt President Donald Trump.
However, the recent release of some of the previously unseen surveillance videos paints a more concerning story. Not only were Democrats and never-Trumpers hellbent on getting Trump, but they did not care who they hurt or what level of deception they had to utilize to accomplish their mission.
As expected, President Trump weighed in on the release of the recent surveillance videos.
On Truth Social, Trump stated:
“Congratulations to Tucker Carlson on one of the biggest ‘scoops’ as a reporter in U.S. history. The New Surveillance Footage of the January 6th Events sheds an entirely different light on what actually happened. The Unselect Committee was a giant SCAM, and has now unequivocally been stamped as CRIMINAL FABRICATORS OF THIS MOST IMPORTANT DAY. Pelosi & McConnell failed on security. The Police story is sad and difficult to watch. ‘Trump’ and most others are totally innocent, LET THEM GO FREE, NOW!”
This should concern all Americans regardless of political affiliation.
Mr. Hakim is an attorney and columnist. His articles have been published in The Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller, The Federalist, American Thinker, and other online publications. He is also a regular guest on OANN’s Tipping Point, and has appeared on Newsmax, The Jenna Ellis Show, Steadfast and Loyal Podcast with Allen West, The Dave Weinbaum Show, and Real America’s Voice. The views expressed herein are the author’s own and do not constitute legal advice.
