{"id":1593979,"date":"2022-08-08T08:33:36","date_gmt":"2022-08-08T12:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1593979"},"modified":"2022-08-08T09:06:55","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T13:06:55","slug":"rep-gohmert-cites-us-code-that-may-force-capitol-police-to-release-remaining-jan-6-surveillance-footage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-gohmert-cites-us-code-that-may-force-capitol-police-to-release-remaining-jan-6-surveillance-footage\/","title":{"rendered":"Rep. Gohmert Cites US Code that May Force Capitol Police to Release Remaining Jan. 6 Surveillance Footage"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frep-gohmert-cites-us-code-that-may-force-capitol-police-to-release-remaining-jan-6-surveillance-footage%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1593979&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>As the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol continues its effort to prove allegations of insurrection against former President Donald Trump and his supporters, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/t-capitol-police\">Capitol Police<\/a> and House Democrats continue to block all efforts to force the release of all surveillance video footage and emails, which could possibly exonerate those being accused of wrongdoing. Now, Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-Texas) is citing a United States Code that could legally force the release of that evidence.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/22125824-letter-to-capitol-police-board\">July, 29, 2022 letter<\/a> to Capitol Police Board Chair William J. Walker, obtained by The Epoch Times, Gohmert\u2014backed by the signatures of 23 additional GOP lawmakers\u2014demanded the release of footage captured on Capitol Hill security cameras on Jan. 6, 2021, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/jan-6-u-s-capitol-video-footage-can-and-should-be-released-judicial-watch-says-in-legal-filing_4262382.html\">currently being withheld<\/a> under \u201csovereign immunity.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3687594\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3687594\" src=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2021\/02\/06\/Louie-Gohmert-600x338.jpg\" alt=\"Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) questions Attorney General William Barr who appears before the House Oversight Committee on July 28, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) questions Attorney General William Barr who appears before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington\u00a0on July 28, 2020. (Matt McClain-Pool\/Getty Images)<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cAs you must be aware,\u201d Gohmert wrote, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/uscode.house.gov\/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title2-section1979&#038;num=0&#038;edition=prelim\">2 U.S.C. \u00a7 1979<\/a>\u00a0states that \u2018any Member \u2026 of either House of Congress\u2019 can \u2018obtain information from the Capitol Police regarding the operations and activities of the Capitol Police that affect the Senate and House of Representatives.\u2019 Subsection (c) makes clear that nothing in that law may be construed to prevent us, as Members of the House of Representatives from our ability to obtain those videos.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gohmert concluded that \u201cReleasing this information is absolutely essential to proper governance and truth to protect and perpetuate this self, governing nation.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>\u2018It\u2019s About Revenge\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/attorneys-claim-government-manufacturing-evidence-to-charge-incarcerate-jan-6-prisoners_4532154.html\">The Epoch Times reported July 5<\/a>, attorneys of Jan. 6 prisoners and defendants have provided evidence in several cases that indicate the government is manufacturing evidence to arrest and incarcerate people who attended the protest at the Capitol. In the meantime, Gohmert insists the government is also <em>hiding<\/em> evidence that could be used in the defense of these people.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s exactly what they\u2019re doing,\u201d Gohmert reiterated, noting how he himself has been a victim of the Jan. 6 Committee\u2019s \u201cSoviet-style propaganda.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Reports disclose how Cassidy Hutchinson, former aide to the then-Whitehouse Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, told the Committee during her June deposition that Gohmert asked then-President Donald Trump for a pardon.<\/p>\n<p>Gohmert demanded a release of the full, unedited video and transcript of Hutchinson\u2019s deposition, saying the way the video was presented erased the fact that he was actually seeking pardons for \u201cvery deserving military members, former military, and one civilian servant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been personally affected by the lies created by using tape,\u201d Gohmert told The Epoch Times. \u201cThey had Cassidy Hutchinson saying I requested a pardon without getting the full context. I have never asked for a pardon for myself. I\u2019ve never done anything that needed a pardon. But I was requesting pardons for a number of people that have been screwed over by the justice system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While a spokesperson for the Capitol Police declined to comment on the letter to The Washington Times, they did push back on allegations that Jan. 6 prisoners and defendants were not provided full access to video that has been provided to the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office (USAO).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery January 6th defendant has access to the same footage, which is everything the USAO is releasing,\u201d the spokesperson told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2022\/aug\/2\/house-republicans-demand-capitol-police-turn-over-\/\">The Washington Times<\/a>. \u201cThey do not just get what is relevant to them.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>The Road to\u00a0<strong>2 U.S.C. \u00a7 1979<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In a May 19, 2022 letter\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/january6th.house.gov\/sites\/democrats.january6th.house.gov\/files\/2022-5-19.BGT%20LC%20Letter%20to%20Loudermilk.pdf\">pdf<\/a>) to Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.),\u00a0Select Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) wrote that the Board was seeking the Congressman\u2019s \u201cvoluntary cooperation\u201d in advancing their investigation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBased on our review of evidence in the Select Committee\u2019s possession,\u201d Thompson said, \u201cwe believe you have information regarding a tour you led through parts of the Capitol complex on January 5, 2021.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe American people deserve a full and accurate accounting of what happened on January 6th,\u201d Thompson\u2019s two-page letter concluded. \u201cWe aim to make informed legislative recommendations taking account of all relevant facts. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The letter was also signed by the Committee Vice Chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4532335\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2022\/06\/14\/rep-loudermilk-1200x867.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy size-medium wp-image-4532335\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/themes\/eet\/images\/white.png\" alt=\"Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) speaks during a hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on May 6, 2019.\" width=\"600\" height=\"434\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rep-loudermilk-600x434-1.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4532335\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rep-loudermilk-600x434-1.jpg\" alt=\"Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) speaks during a hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on May 6, 2019.\" width=\"600\" height=\"434\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) speaks during a hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on May 6, 2019. (Joe Raedle\/Getty Images)<\/figure>\n<p>In an immediate same-day response, Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Committee Member\u00a0Loudermilk issued a joint\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/republicans-cha.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/davis-and-loudermilk-call-capitol-police-release-january-5th-tapes\">press release,<\/a> calling out the Select Committee for its false accusations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA constituent family with young children meeting with their Member of Congress in the House Office Buildings is not a suspicious group or \u2018reconnaissance tour,&#8217;\u201d the letter states. \u201cThe family never entered the Capitol building.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe 1\/6 political circus released the letter to the press before even notifying Mr. Loudermilk, who has\u00a0still not received a copy,\u201d the letter accuses. \u201cThe Select Committee\u00a0is once again pushing a verifiably false narrative that Republicans conducted \u2018reconnaissance tours\u2019 on January 5th. The facts speak for themselves; no place that the family went on the 5th was breached on the 6th, the family did not enter the Capitol grounds on the 6th, and no one in that family has been investigated or charged in connection to January 6th.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/22126314-correspondence_from_rm_rodney_davis_to_uscp_board_re_demand_to_release_all_january_5th_capitol_security_tapes01\">a letter<\/a>\u00a0dated May 20, 2022, addressed to Capitol Police Board Chair William Walker and members Karen Gibson and J. Brett Blanton, Davis demanded the release of \u201call January 5th Capitol Tapes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the Board does not release the relevant footage in a timely manner, <strong>I will have no choice but to exercise my authority under 2 U.S.C. \u00a7 1979 to release the footage myself.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3720534\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2021\/03\/04\/rodney-davis-2-1200x800.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy size-medium wp-image-3720534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/themes\/eet\/images\/white.png\" alt=\"Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Il.) speaks in Washington on Jan. 9, 2020.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rodney-davis-2-600x400-1.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3720534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rodney-davis-2-600x400-1.jpg\" alt=\"Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Il.) speaks in Washington on Jan. 9, 2020.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Il.) speaks in Washington on Jan. 9, 2020. (Alex Wong\/Getty Images)<\/figure>\n<p>On June 15, 2022, Thompson sent another letter\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net\/static\/2022\/06\/letter-loudermilk.pdf\">pdf<\/a>) to Loudermilk, again accusing him of personally escorting individuals through the Capitol Building for the purposes of conducting reconnaissance ahead of the rallies on Jan. 6. Thompson also reminded Loudermilk that the Committee had \u201cinvited\u201d him to meet with them on May 19, 2022, about the \u201cevidence,\u201d which consisted of surveillance footage of Loudermilk leading a \u201ctour of approximately ten individuals\u201d through areas that are \u201cnot typically of interest to tourists, including hallways, staircases and security checkpoints.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSurveillance footage shows a tour of approximately ten individuals led by you to areas in the Rayburn, Longworth, and Cannon House Office Buildings, as well as the entrances to tunnels leading to the U.S. Capitol,\u201d Thompson said in his letter. \u201cThe below image shows you leading individuals on the tour:\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4644322\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Tour2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy size-full wp-image-4644322\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/themes\/eet\/images\/white.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of image from a June 15, 2022 letter written by Select Committee Chairman Bernie G. Thompson\u00a0to United States Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), accusing him of personally escorting individuals through the Capitol Building for the purposes of conducting reconnaissance ahead of the rallies on Jan. 6.\" width=\"382\" height=\"223\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Tour2.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4644322\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Tour2.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of image from a June 15, 2022 letter written by Select Committee Chairman Bernie G. Thompson\u00a0to United States Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), accusing him of personally escorting individuals through the Capitol Building for the purposes of conducting reconnaissance ahead of the rallies on Jan. 6.\" width=\"382\" height=\"223\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Screenshot of image from a June 15, 2022 letter written by Select Committee Chairman Bernie G. Thompson\u00a0to United States Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), accusing him of personally escorting individuals through the Capitol Building for the purposes of conducting reconnaissance ahead of the rallies on Jan. 6. (Letter from the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol)<\/figure>\n<p>Two additional images in the letter show \u201can individual appearing to photograph a staircase in the basement of the Longworth House Office Building\u201d while Loudermilk speaks \u201cwith others nearby,\u201d and of people from Loudermilk\u2019s tour \u201ctaking photographs of the tunnel leading from the Rayburn House Office Building to the Capitol.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4644349\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2022\/08\/04\/Screenshot-Tour-1200x397.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy size-medium wp-image-4644349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/themes\/eet\/images\/white.png\" alt=\"Images from a June 15, 2022 letter sent by Select Committee Chairman Bernie G. Thompson to United States Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), showing members of the Congressman's tour taking photos.\" width=\"600\" height=\"199\" data-src=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2022\/08\/04\/Screenshot-Tour-600x199.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4644349\" src=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2022\/08\/04\/Screenshot-Tour-600x199.jpg\" alt=\"Images from a June 15, 2022 letter sent by Select Committee Chairman Bernie G. Thompson to United States Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), showing members of the Congressman&#039;s tour taking photos.\" width=\"600\" height=\"199\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Images from a June 15, 2022 letter sent by Select Committee Chairman Bernie G. Thompson to United States Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), showing members of the Congressman\u2019s tour taking photos. (Letter from the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol)<\/figure>\n<p>Loudermilk did not comply with the interview request.<\/p>\n<p>On June 16, 2022, the Committee released surveillance footage\u00a0of Loudermilk\u2019s \u201ctour,\u201d overlayed with graphics and preceded by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=G9RNJ1tx4zw\">selected footage<\/a> from other videos that add to their narrative of Loudermilk\u2019s supposed guilt.<\/p>\n<h2>The Problems with Pick-and-Choose<\/h2>\n<p>For Mike Howell, senior advisor for Government Relations at The Heritage Foundation, the threat by Davis to release the Jan. 5 footage of Loudermilk, if the Capitol Police do not, raises a serious question.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4643896\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Howell_Mike.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy size-full wp-image-4643896\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/themes\/eet\/images\/white.png\" alt=\"Mile Howell, Senior Advisor of Government Relations at The Heritage Foundation.\" width=\"402\" height=\"450\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Howell_Mike.png\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4643896\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Howell_Mike.png\" alt=\"Mile Howell, Senior Advisor of Government Relations at The Heritage Foundation.\" width=\"402\" height=\"450\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Mile Howell, Senior Advisor of Government Relations at The Heritage Foundation. (Courtesy of Mike Howell)<\/figure>\n<p>Howell noted how Davis only threatened to release video footage that pertained to the Loudermilk incident and insisted he had the authority to do so.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe question that\u2019s been percolating is, \u2018If you <em>have<\/em> the authority to release the tape from January fifth, why are you not releasing <em>all<\/em> of the tapes?\u2019 That would be of major importance because there are a lot of major criminal cases coming down and defense attorneys have had problems trying to get access to these tapes themselves,\u201d he told The Epoch Times.<\/p>\n<p>Gohmert agreed the Committee should not be allowed \u201cto just pick-and-choose which sections they show.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, they should be able to show the defense what they\u2019re going to use in prosecution. But they are also required to show the things that were more exonerating and exculpatory and that does not appear to have happened at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Howell sees at least two problems with this game of pick-and-choose.<\/p>\n<p>First, the request by Davis only to release a segment of video he believes will prove <em>his<\/em> point is no different than the Jan. 6 Committee \u201cselectively releasing portions they think show the best side of <em>their<\/em> version of events.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Second: \u201cIf the authority exists, and Davis has the power through this statute to release the footage from Jan. 5,\u201d Howell surmised, \u201cwhy haven\u2019t the tapes already been released in full?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While Howell did remark that some will cite security issues as the reason for withholding most of the footage captured by cameras at the Capitol, he said he\u2019s \u201cgot news for them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are cameras all over the Capitol,\u201d Howell countered. \u201cSo it\u2019s not a matter of special camera angles. I think the real reason why they\u2019re not being released is because it can potentially show information and video footage that could be helpful to people being charged by the Department of Justice as well as damaging to the narrative that the January 6 Committee is trying to establish.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/f\/?id=00000178-80b2-dae3-affa-e6f753140000\">sworn affidavit<\/a> from Capitol Police General Counsel Thomas DiBiase, surveillance camera footage from the U.S. Capitol Police\u2019s extensive system of cameras on U.S. Capitol grounds states \u201cdisclosure of any footage from these cameras is strictly limited and subject to a policy that regulates the release of footage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPer Department 1000.002, Retrieval of Archived Video (see attachment 1), the release of any footage from the Department\u2019s CCV system must be approved by the Assistant Chief of Police for Operations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Howell said the tapes need to be released to give people a \u201cfull accounting\u201d of what happened on Jan. 2, 2021 and allow attorneys to go through the footage to find out if there is anything in there that may be helpful to their clients.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the minds of many Americans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, this event has been made out to be akin to 9\/11.\u201d Howell said. \u201cSo, the question is, why can\u2019t the American people<em> see<\/em> what actually happened that day. I think there\u2019s massive public interest in this, and that outweighs any other concerns, so the tapes belong in the public.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>\u2018Why Are You Only Threatening\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>While Howell finds Davis\u2019s threat to release the Loudermilk video a bit curious, he isn\u2019t surprised. At the time, when Davis made the threat, he was struggling through a primary challenge against fellow Republican and Trump-endorsed candidate Mary Miller after redistricting pitted the two incumbent Republicans against each other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo he, in an effort to shore up some bona fides on the right, basically threatened to release these tapes,\u201d Howell surmised. \u201cNow he\u2019s lost his primary and nothing has happened. He hasn\u2019t released the tapes and he hasn\u2019t said anything else since.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Still, Howell believes the House Administration Committee\u2014to which the Capitol Police reports and of which Davis still serves as ranking member\u2014does have the power and authority to demand the release of the surveillance footage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey aren\u2019t an independent police agency,\u201d Howell noted of the Capitol Police. \u201cThey report to Congress. So Congress can tell Capitol Police what to do. I\u2019m surprised more people haven\u2019t picked up on it. You have the tapes and you can release them? Why are you only <em>threatening<\/em> to release them?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gohmert said \u201cthese tactics are things that were supposed to be left behind 70 or more years ago. We had evolved to a justice system that was the fairest in the history of the world. Now, this Justice Department and the majority in the House are taking us back six or seven decades and they\u2019ve gone beyond how bad it used to be and they\u2019re approaching a Soviet-style justice system. Stalin would be proud of what they\u2019re doing. It\u2019s grossly unfair, grossly unjust. It doesn\u2019t resemble the justice system at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Like Howell, Gohmert also wants to know why Davis only demanded the release of surveillance footage that might prove the innocence of his colleague, just as the members of the Select Committee are selecting bits and pieces they think will prove the guilt of their political enemies.<\/p>\n<h2>The Next Step<\/h2>\n<p>Asked for the next step, Gohmert said he is going to give the Capitol Police a chance to respond to his letter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt they don\u2019t respond quickly, I think we do need to take legal action,\u201d he said. \u201cIf they respond and say, \u2018you\u2019re not entitled to it, we\u2019ve ignored lots of laws already and this is just one more law we\u2019ll ignore,\u2019 then we have got to\u2014for the sake of the country, for the sake of our justice system and for the sake of truth\u2014stand up and hold the Justice Department accountable for their violations of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another thing bothering Gohmert is what he is learning through talking to Jan. 6 prisoners \u201cen mass at the D.C. Jail.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have been deeply concerned and a lot of us have been demanding that all of the video be released for months,\u201d Gohmert explained. \u201cThe Supreme Court made clear that the Department of Justice has to release any potentially exonerating or exculpatory evidence to the defense. They put so much pressure on defendants and kept many of them in jail so that they just agree to plea guilty without ever seeing the exculpatory evidence, which is absolutely outrageous because that lets the DOJ off the hook.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gohmert said it was the moment he learned that 2 U.S.C. \u00a7 1979 isn\u2019t a House rule, but that it\u2019s actually a law, that he knew he had to take a stand, and while he knows that there are still some members of the Capitol Police who \u201cwant to see right prevail and truth and justice prevail\u201d he said he \u201ccan only hope they will do the right thing\u201d and release the surveillance footage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf they\u2019re not willing to do it,\u201d Gohmert vowed, \u201cwe\u2019ve got to go to court as quickly as possible and require them to produce [the video]. This is a law. This is not a suggestion. It is absolutely imperative that Congress have access to all of that. So, that\u2019s why we made the request and then sent the letter out so we could get it out as quickly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt will be interesting to know who\u2019s been holding up the video,\u201d Gohmert speculated, \u201cbecause some of the people who have refused to answer questions\u201d may soon \u201chave to respond after their subpoenaed and drug into court.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Epoch Times reached out to Davis, the Capitol Police, and the Office of the Inspector General.<\/p>\n<div class=\"author_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"one_author_block round\">\n<div class=\"top_row\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/author-patricia-tolson\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Patricia-Tolson.jpg\" alt=\"Patricia Tolson\" \/><\/a>Follow<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bio\">Patricia Tolson, an award-winning national investigative reporter with 20 years of experience, has worked for such news outlets as Yahoo!, U.S. News, and The Tampa Free Press. With The Epoch Times, Patricia\u2019s in-depth investigative coverage of human interest stories, election policies, education, school boards, and parental rights has achieved international exposure. Send her your story ideas: <a class=\"linkified\" href=\"mailto:patricia.tolson@epochtimes.us\">patricia.tolson@epochtimes.us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol continues its effort to prove allegations of insurrection against former President Donald Trump and his<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1594083,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1593979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1593979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1593979"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1593979\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1594083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1593979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1593979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1593979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}