In the tumultuous aftermath of January 6, 2021, the political and legal landscape became a minefield for those accused of participating in the Capitol demonstration. Amid heated rhetoric, comparisons to September 11 and Pearl Harbor, and the actions of the January 6 Select Committee, one prominent voice stood out:
Tucker Carlson, who challenged the narratives and defended the principles of due process.
On Tuesday, investigative journalist Julie Kelly, who has documented the lion's share of information on January 6 prosecutions by the Department of Justice, shared her thoughts on Tucker Carlson’s role in exposing the truth. Writing on social media, she stated:
“I said this in interviews yesterday but we all owe a debt of gratitude to @TuckerCarlson for helping expose the J6 false narrative. Without him, none of this would have happened.”
I said this in interviews yesterday but we all owe a debt of gratitude to @TuckerCarlson for helping expose the J6 false narrative. Without him, none of this would have happened
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) January 8, 2025
Tuning in, Turning the Tide
In March 2023, Carlson aired never-before-seen surveillance footage from inside the Capitol during a weeknight segment. The footage, obtained after then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-A.CA) granted him access to security tapes, painted a different picture of the events than the narrative portrayed to the American public.
Carlson declared on his program:
“‘Deadly insurrection.’ Everything about that phrase is a lie. Very little about Jan. 6 was organized or violent. Surveillance video from inside the Capitol shows mostly peaceful chaos.”
Carlson aired previously unreleased footage of one of January 6's most recognizable defendants, Jacob Chansley, also known as the "QAnon Shaman." The segment showed footage of Chansley being escorted through the Capitol by police officers, walking calmly through hallways, and appearing to interact peacefully.
Carlson argued this footage presented a significantly different picture than what had been shown in most media coverage, which had focused primarily on the now-iconic images of Chansley in his horned headdress and face paint on the Senate floor. The segment emphasized how officers appeared to act as guides for Chansley rather than treating him as a threat.
Carlson used the footage to raise questions about the severity of charges against Chansley and others. He questioned whether the government’s approach to prosecuting January 6 participants was motivated by justice or political vendettas.
The dramatic shift in public perception since Carlson’s bombshell J6 segment serves as a reminder of how sentiment has evolved, much like the proverbial frog in slowly heating water.
Backlash on the Hill
When Carlson first aired the surveillance footage in March 2023, the backlash was swift and crossed party lines. Senate Republicans like Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Mitt Romney(R-UT), and Thom Thillis (R-NC) joined in forceful condemnation, with McConnell explicitly siding with the Capitol Police Chief’s criticism of Carlson’s portrayal.
In a press conference, McConnell said:
“It was a mistake in my view for Fox News to depict this in a way that is completely at variance with what our chief law enforcement official here at Capitol thinks."
MCCONNELL comments on Tucker Carlson, holds up this letter from USCP Chief Manger: “With regard to the presentation on Fox News last night, I want to associate myself entirely with the opinion of the chief of the Capitol police about what happened on January 6.” pic.twitter.com/tHGfoxwUsw
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) March 7, 2023
Yet this moment of bipartisan outrage now feels almost foreign to current, more nuanced, discussions about the January 6 cases. The segment that was once condemned by mainstream Republican leadership gradually became a turning point in how these cases were discussed publicly.
A New Era
Carlson’s coverage of the January 6 defendants was not without controversy, but it played a pivotal role in highlighting their plight. While his editorial decisions on the issue became a lightning rod of criticism near the end of his tenure at Fox News, his efforts left a lasting impact on the public’s perception of the events.
After parting ways with Fox, in June 2023, Carlson launched his show on X (formerly Twitter), with a seismic entry into the digital media landscape. His move demonstrated the growing power of new media platforms to bypass traditional media gatekeepers.
A Debt of Gratitude
Carlson’s decision to air the footage, despite widespread criticism, planted seeds of doubt that have grown into a sweeping reevaluation of the narratives surrounding January 6. And ultimately, the shift in sentiment laid the groundwork for clemency.
Tucker Carlson’s work reminds us of the importance of due process, equal treatment under the law, and skepticism of government overreach. By giving a voice to the voiceless and questioning the prevailing narratives, he helped ensure that the January 6 defendants were not forgotten.
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Now, for January 6 defendants and their families, the prospect of clemency offers a chance at redemption. Carlson’s efforts gave these individuals visibility and humanized their experiences. Pardons could mean reuniting families, rebuilding careers, and restoring dignity lost to dishonest media narratives and heavy-handed prosecutions.
His coverage serves as a powerful example of how the media can hold the government accountable and champion the rights of individuals. As Julie Kelly aptly stated, Carlson is indeed owed a debt of gratitude for his unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth and advocating for justice.
