Like far too many right-wing lawmakers and media personalities, far-right Fox News host Tucker Carlson has repeatedly denied the severity of the Capitol Riots of January 6, which were prompted by former President Donald Trump's months-long smear campaign against the validity of the 2020 election.
Carlson has falsely suggested the FBI was secretly behind the riots, that lawmakers were never endangered, and dismissed the idea that the rioters ever posed a threat.
As the House Select Committee to investigate the riots prepares for its first hearing, Carlson is now targeting Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who is slated to testify before the Committee.
Watch below.
Tucker Carlson attacks Harry Dunn, a black Capitol Police officer who was attacked by rioters during the Jan. 6 insurrection.\n\n"Harry Dunn has very little in common with your average cop. Dunn is an angry left-wing political activist."pic.twitter.com/EfnXWi3ZKz— Justin Baragona (@Justin Baragona) 1626914822
Carlson said:
"Dunn will pretend to speak for the country's law enforcement community. But it turns out Dunn has very little in common with your average cop. Dunn is an angry left-wing political activist whose social media feeds are full of praise, not coincidentally for Nancy Pelosi."
The documented white supremacist and loser of Dancing with the Starswent on to cite Dunn's social media posts opposing racism and supporting Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California as reasons he couldn't be trusted, despite being a direct witness to the events of the failed insurrection.
Dunn's lawyers issued a statement decrying Carlson's latest screed.
pic.twitter.com/iCibBXB855
— Mark S. Zaid (@MarkSZaidEsq) July 22, 2021
The statement reads:
"Tonight Fox News allowed its host Tucker Carlson, who has not served a day in uniform, whether military or law enforcement, to criticize the heroism and service of African-American U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn. Our client has served 13 years in law enforcement and on January 6, 2021, fought against an insurrectionist violent crowd ― no doubt many of them Carlson's supporters ― to protect the lives of our elected officials, including Vice President Pence.
Officer Dunn, who would lay down his life to protect a Member of Congress, regardless of being a Republican or Democrat, will testify next Tuesday before the House Select Committee investigating the events of the insurrection. Frankly, the last thing Carlson wants is for the truth to emerge of what happened that day and why."
People applauded the response.
Go get them, Officer Dunn! I hope you know you are not alone. Thank you for your service.https://twitter.com/markszaidesq/status/1418045004317089794\u00a0\u2026— \ud83c\udfd6 Kanoe \ud83c\udf0a (@\ud83c\udfd6 Kanoe \ud83c\udf0a) 1626924222
I like this response. Puts tucker on notice not to interfere with witnesses for the 1/6 Commission. https://twitter.com/MarkSZaidEsq/status/1418045004317089794\u00a0\u2026— Nurses Against Dick Pics. (@Nurses Against Dick Pics.) 1626953140
I stand with Officer Dunn.https://twitter.com/MarkSZaidEsq/status/1418045004317089794\u00a0\u2026— Miki Britton (@Miki Britton) 1626954996
love it!!https://twitter.com/markszaidesq/status/1418045004317089794\u00a0\u2026— Rusty Shackleford (@Rusty Shackleford) 1626949149
Meanwhile, Carlson was inundated with backlash.
Back the Blue\u2014unless they're Black and you suspect they don't lean red.https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1418009659143856132\u00a0\u2026— Ashton Pittman (@Ashton Pittman) 1626924870
Tucker Carlson is what happens when mayonnaise goes bad...https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1418009659143856132\u00a0\u2026— John Houck (@John Houck) 1626969781
Harry Dunn is a hero.\n\nTucker is a zero.https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1418009659143856132\u00a0\u2026— Fully vaxxed Amy Jenson (@Fully vaxxed Amy Jenson) 1626968958
Just when I think he can\u2019t stoop any lower.https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1418009659143856132\u00a0\u2026— RobinH (@RobinH) 1626952471
And so the attacks on witnesses to be called to give evidence to the House Special Committee to discredit them to #FoxNews viewers/followers, begins.https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1418009659143856132\u00a0\u2026— Christine Mitchell (@Christine Mitchell) 1626954643
The House Select Committee hearing will be on July 27.