House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has begun releasing the full 44,000 hours of security footage from the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, fulfilling a promise he made when elected. So far, about 90 hours have been posted on a public website, with plans to add the rest gradually.
Faces of private citizens will be blurred to protect their privacy, and roughly 5% of the footage will be withheld for security reasons. A public viewing room will also be made available for uncensored access.
The move drew praise from Republicans like Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep. Chip Roy, who applauded Johnson for honoring his word. Gaetz previously negotiated for the footage’s release during Kevin McCarthy’s speakership and has pushed for greater transparency, including more cameras on the House floor.
The footage had previously been selectively released to media, prompting calls from news organizations for full access.
