Chicago City Wire

Dan Proft, host of the "Chicago's Morning Answer" radio show, discussed new footage released by Tucker Carlson on the March 8 episode of the show, saying Carlson "addressed it all" with regard to the Jan. 6 controversy.

FOX News host Carlson shared security footage from the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which he said he received from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. NBC News reported that the footage Carlson showed depicted January 6 as a peaceful gathering rather than a riot.

"Well, I mean, there's a lot of video footage and there's a lot of unexplained," Proft said on his show. "And there's a lot of a lack of explanation around the behavior of Ray Epps, for example, who we've talked about before. And it's been much talked about the only protester there that Adam Kinzinger will defend. Tucker Carlson also took the opportunity on his show—for as long as Chuck Schumer allows him to have it—to respond to policy and the call for silencing and to also address what you raised, Amy, which is this the reaction, the reaction from all quarters, including Republicans, Mitch McConnell denouncing FOX, Mitt Romney, Thom Tillis. So this is dangerous and terrible and bull jive and so on and so forth. Tucker Carlson addressed it all."

In February, Carlson announced that McCarthy had given him exclusive access to 44,000 hours of security video from the Jan. 6 incident, NBC News said. McCarthy's decision to give the video to Carlson caused controversy and is a new development in the highly scrutinized events of that day.

Almost 1,000 people have been charged in connection with the incident, during which approximately 140 officers allegedly were assaulted, according to NBC News. Among those charged, approximately 326 were accused of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers and employees, including more than 100 assaults using deadly or dangerous weapons. Additionally, approximately 60 individuals have pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement. Two undetonated pipe bombs were also found nearby.

Carlson said the video tells a different story.

"Well, it's not outrage, of course," Carlson said in a clip from his show tweeted recently by The Columbia Bugle. "It's fear. It's panic. Those videos, which we did not retouch, which we brought to you after running everyone by the Capitol Police to make certain that we didn't imperil anybody. We told you that last night. Those videos touch a nerve because they're a threat to the lies that Chuck Schumer has been telling for the last 26 months, and not just Chuck Schumer.

"We should also tell you that Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, was joined in this outrage by the Senate minority leader, and that would be a Republican, Mitch McConnell. And you have to ask yourself, why?"