Sarah Burris is a long-time veteran of political campaigns, having worked as a fundraiser and media director across the United States. She transitioned into reporting while working for Rock the Vote, Future Majority and Wiretap Magazine, covering the Millennial Generation's perspective during the presidential elections. As a political writer, Burris has had bylines at CNN, Salon.com, BNR, and AlterNet and serves as a senior digital editor for RawStory.com.
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) said that he will release the Jan. 6, 2021 video for the world to see, and it will include clips that will jeopardize the security of the Capitol, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) said on Sunday.
What Lofgren said she found most concerning, is that the House Select Committee investing the 2020 election overthrow attempt and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol intentionally held back videos that featured escape routes and security movements of the Secret Service to protect lawmakers.
"Now, we did not release a video that did not have rioters in it for the escape routes," she explained to MSNBC on Sunday. "We've tried to keep that, for security purposes, back. I guess they're going to let that go too. It endangers the institution, and the people in it."
Host Ayman Mohyeldin called it an interesting point, asking for her to confirm Johnson will release the footage that will reveal security movements in the Capitol.
"You are saying that he may release footage that the committee and Congress did not want to at the time for the reason of not jeopardizing the security and members of Congress and the functioning of Congress. He may release that footage and by doing so ultimately risk members of Congress down the road in the future? Knowing what these escape routes are?" he asked.
Lofgren said that Johnson said he intended to "release it all."
"I take him at his word," she explained. "And all of it shows some escape routes that the Capitol Police were very adamant should not be made public for security purposes. So, that would not be too wise. But really, they are trying to spin a brutal riot, where more than 160 Capitol police officers and metropolitan police officers were severely hurt. I mean, eyes gouged out, fingers lost. Injuries so severe some of them could not get back to work. And somehow, this was 'a picnic.' This was a walk in the park, and that was absurd."
She noted that the committee showed a lot of video from inside the Capitol, and every network was feeding the attack on the air on Jan. 6 for the public to watch.
"You can watch with your own eyes what happened. I was there. So, was Mike," Lofgren continued. "We were evacuated, and now to try to make it into something else is really — he must think people are stupid. They can convince them not to believe their lying eyes."
It's unclear when Johnson will drop the full video.