House Speaker Mike Johnson to blur faces of Capitol attackers in released footage
CNN — House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Tuesday that the faces of the mob involved in the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, will be blurred before publicly releasing the footage in order to protect them from the Justice Department.
Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, stated in a news conference that his intention is to ensure that rioters do not get prosecuted. He emphasized that the process of blurring faces is being carried out in a methodical manner to prevent retaliation and charges by the DOJ.
However, the decision to blur the faces of the attackers has raised concerns. While federal investigators and prosecutors already have footage from the Capitol’s security cameras and have used it to charge and prosecute members of the mob, blurring the faces of people at the Capitol that day could hinder the potential for additional tips from the public.
In a statement posted online, Raj Shah, a spokesperson for Johnson, stressed that the speaker wants to blur faces “to prevent all forms of retaliation” from non-governmental actors.
The Justice Department has reported that 683 people have pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from their actions on January 6, and 127 individuals have been found guilty through trials in DC’s district court. The Department has also sought the public’s help in identifying over 300 more individuals involved in the attack.
Johnson had previously announced his plan to release Capitol Hill security footage that does not contain sensitive information, stating that there would be a public viewing room to ensure that every citizen can view the videos uncensored.
The decision to blur faces of the attackers has sparked mixed reactions, with concerns over the potential impact on the identification of additional perpetrators and the public’s ability to provide tips.