Justice Department shoots down claims that Tucker Carlson footage of QAnon Shaman exonerates Jan 6 rioters

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Federal prosecutors have shot down any suggestion that footage aired on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News programme has in any way exonerated the so-called QAnon Shaman who joined a mob that stormed the halls of the US Capitol on January 6. A 10-page court filing from the US Department of Justice on 12 March argues that Carlson showed only four minutes of Chansley’s time inside the Capitol, omitting the fact that he breached a police barricade, followed a mob that broke windows and doors to gain entry, and faced off against US Capitol Police officers for more than 30 minutes outside the Senate chamber as lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence made their escape. An attorney for Dominic Pezzola, who is allegedly seen on tape using a stolen police riot shield to break into the building, has argued that footage aired on Carlson’s programme showing Chansley walking inside the Capitol with officers was “exculpatory”. US Capitol Police chief Thomas Manger said Carlson “fails to provide context” in programming that provides “offensive and misleading conclusions” surrounding the attack.”