House Speaker Mike Johnson has been at the center of controversy regarding the release of surveillance footage from the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Johnson had promised to release over 44,000 hours of footage during his run for speaker, but so far, only 90 hours have been made public. The delay in the release of the remaining footage has been attributed to the time-consuming process of blurring the faces of the individuals involved in the riot.
The decision to blur the faces of the rioters has sparked a wave of reactions across social media and among political figures. Johnson's office has stated that the blurring is intended to prevent retaliation against private citizens by non-governmental actors. However, critics argue that this move is an attempt to rewrite the events of January 6 and protect the perpetrators.
Former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney has expressed her suspicions about Johnson's intentions, suggesting that the blurring of faces could be a strategy to protect the identities of the rioters. This viewpoint has been echoed by critics on social media, some of whom have accused Johnson of obstruction of justice.
The blurred footage has been in the possession of federal investigators for nearly three years and has been used to help identify suspects in the riot. Over 1,200 people have been charged in connection with the events of January 6, including 117 individuals accused of using a deadly weapon or causing serious bodily injury to a police officer. Former President Donald Trump has referred to the suspects as 'hostages.'
The ongoing debate about the events of January 6 and the charges against Trump and other defendants continues to be a contentious issue. The release of the remaining footage and the decision to blur the faces of the rioters will likely continue to fuel this debate.