OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy indicated on Thursday that he would be willing to release thousands of hours of security video from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot that took place at the U.S. Capitol Building, footage that has yet to be seen by the general public.
The California Republican made his remarks in response to a question from a reporter, who said, “[Florida GOP] Congressman [Matt] Gaetz said that he said that you would be willing to do that.”
“Yeah, I think the public should see what’s happened on them,” McCarthy said.
“I watched what Nancy Pelosi did where she politicized it, where for the first time in the history as a speaker, not allowing the minority to appoint to a committee. To pick and choose,” McCarthy added. “We watched the politicization of this. I think the American public should actually see all what happened instead of a report that’s written for a political basis.
“I think the answer, we’re looking through that, I want to be very thoughtful about it, but yes, I’m engaged to do that,” the Speaker noted further.
Gaetz was at the forefront of the opposition against McCarthy becoming speaker, leading to days of balloting until the Californian finally won during a late-night session a week ago after making a number of concessions to members of the Freedom Caucus.
In a tweet Thursday night, CNN reporter Melanie Zanona reported that the release of the Jan. 6 footage was a part of the deal to get enough support to put McCarthy over the top.
“Rep. Matt Gaetz has revealed yet another promise that Kevin McCarthy made in his bid to become speaker: agreeing to release all the security camera footage from the Capitol on January 6,” she said.
Rep. Matt Gaetz has revealed yet another promise that Kevin McCarthy made in his bid to become speaker: agreeing to release all the security camera footage from the Capitol on January 6.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) January 13, 2023
The drama that played out a week ago to elect a GOP speaker was unprecedented in modern times.
“It took a loss by a razor-thin margin in a late-night Round 14, a heated exchange with one of his sternest opponents, and a near-adjournment of the House till Monday to break a logjam unseen since before the Civil War,” the Associated Press reported after the 15th round of balloting.
“The final tally that put him over the top: 216 for McCarthy, 212 for Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries and 6 simply ‘present,’” the outlet reported.
A video clip of a frustrated McCarthy confronting Gaetz after his first “present” went viral online in the session:
🚨 BREAKING: Matt Gaetz votes present, leaving Kevin McCarthy one vote short of being confirmed as Speaker.
McCarthy is NOT happy 😂pic.twitter.com/dWcDjTQAVo
— Patriot Alerts (@alerts___) January 7, 2023
The newswire noted further:
All day Friday, McCarthy had been inching ever closer to taking up the gavel as he won over multiple diehard conservative critics and resistors. McCarthy, who flipped 15 colleagues to supporters in dramatic votes on Friday afternoon, returned to the chamber at 10 p.m. ET with hopes high that he’d woo enough additional hardliners to put him over the top.
But then came a surprising loss, with him snagging 216 votes, just one shy of the 217 needed to get a House majority after two colleagues, Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz, merely voted “present.”
What followed was some extraordinary drama, as McCarthy and Gaetz appeared to exchange sharp words on the House floor. A vote to adjourn till Monday was quickly introduced, but was then walked back as supporters did a U-turn and rescinded votes.
Some Republicans said the drama was worth it to secure a better rules package agreement regarding power from McCarthy.
“This is a really good rules package, and it’s good that we negotiated this for our system of government, and it’s great for the American people,” said Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.). “If we’re going to have self-government, we’ve got to show this” to the public.”
She also said she did not agree with Gaetz’s continuing to hold out support for McCarthy.
“I disagree with his position” of refusing to support McCarthy. “But that’s OK. We’re still going to be friends tomorrow after this is all said and done,” she said.
“There’s a point in time where you’ve got to give up on your position — after getting everything you want. … At that point, you’re not really negotiating. You’re more of a hostage-taker,” she noted further.
