GOP Reps Liz Cheney, of Wyoming, and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, are among several Republicans slamming Fox News for giving ring-wing host Tucker Carlson a platform to spread lies that lead to violence.
The backlash came after the conservative network aired a promotional video teasing an upcoming episode of Carlson’s mini-series “Tucker Carlson originals” titled “Patriot Purge” that examines the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and purports to tell “the true story behind 1/6.”
“The helicopters have left Afghanistan and now they’ve landed here at home,” Carlson is seen saying on the promotional video. “They’ve begun to fight a new enemy in a new war on terror.”
A woman interviewed for the piece says on the video “false flags have happened in this country, one of which could have been Jan. 6.”
Cheney and Kinzinger, both members of the select committee to investigate the January 6 insurrection, are ripping Fox News Media for “giving [Carlson] a platform to spread the same type of lies that provoked violence on January 6.”
“It appears that Fox News is giving Tucker Carlson a platform to spread the same type of lies that provoked violence on January 6. As Fox News knows, the election wasn’t stolen and January 6 was not a “false flag” operation,” Cheney said.
Rep. Kinzinger followed up tweeting: “Anyone working for Fox News must speak out. This is disgusting. It appears Fox News isn’t even pretending anymore”
Carlson has drawn widespread criticism for his remarks about the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, at one point pushing baseless claims that FBI informants were among those who planned and executed the breach on the Capitol.
He has also blasted police officers who responded to the rioting that day, questioning their impartiality and suggesting one Black officer was an “angry left-wing political activist.”
Other Republicans also hit Carlson for the promotional video, which was shared on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday.
Geraldo Rivera, a longtime Fox News contributor, suggested in an interview with The New York Times that Carlson may be trying to intentionally provoke people with the content he and his team create.
“Tucker’s wonderful, he’s provocative, he’s original, but — man oh man,” Rivera said. “There are some things that you say that are more inflammatory and outrageous and uncorroborated. And I worry that — and I’m probably going to get in trouble for this — but I’m wondering how much is done to provoke, rather than illuminate.”
Carlson responded to the criticism on Thursday night, defending the mini series and hitting back at Cheney, as well as Democrats and the media.
“Until yesterday she and Nancy Pelosi had a monopoly on how Americans were allowed to understand Jan. 6. Unfortunately for them, that’s not how a free society works. Politicians don’t get to put parameters around your thoughts or conversations. Free people are allowed to ask any question they want,” Carlson said. “They can follow the facts to their own logical conclusions and that’s exactly what we set out to do months ago when we began reporting out this story.”
It appears that @FoxNews is giving @TuckerCarlson a platform to spread the same type of lies that provoked violence on January 6. As @FoxNews knows, the election wasn’t stolen and January 6 was not a “false flag” operation. @rupertmurdoch @jayawallace @Suzannescott @SpeakerRyan https://t.co/ODKZFVUFBa
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) October 28, 2021
Anyone working for @FoxNews must speak out. This is disgusting. It appears @foxnews isn’t even pretending anymore https://t.co/54Dfj3CS9X
— Adam Kinzinger (@AdamKinzinger) October 28, 2021
Thank you. It’s insane. Basic facts and @FoxNews needs to pull this. https://t.co/NJQNvUmiC5
— Adam Kinzinger (@AdamKinzinger) October 28, 2021
At least 7 white nationalist groups were involved on Jan 6th
Tucker’s lies will focus on FBI, Antifa & other false flag conspiracies. Flynn insanity. QAnon ignorance. Replacement theory. Babbitt martyrdom. Ali Akbar, Gosar & others
Propaganda inciting violence on @FoxNews https://t.co/MUGUoRfI6Y
— Denver Riggleman (@RepRiggleman) October 28, 2021
Here’s Tucker Carlson’s response to Cheney:
Politicians don’t get to put parameters around your thoughts or conversations. Free people are allowed to ask any question they want. pic.twitter.com/NK6QrYncal
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) October 29, 2021
