‘Farrago of lies’: Naomi Wolf Apologizes for Believing Media’s Jan. 6 Narrative 

Journalist and creator Naomi Wolf apologized for believing the legacy media protection of the Jan. 6, 2021, incidents on the U.S. Capitol after Fox Information host Tucker Carlson aired further, beforehand unreleased footage final week.   

“I need to say that I’m sorry for believing the dominant legacy-media ‘narrative’ fairly fully from the time it was rolled out, with out asking questions,” she wrote on her Substack, “Outspoken with Dr. Naomi Wolf,” on March 9.  

Wolf’s apology got here after Carlson aired excerpts of greater than 40,000 hours of safety digital camera footage from Jan. 6 on his Fox Information present. Carlson obtained the footage from Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who mentioned he’ll proceed to roll out the footage to different main information shops.  

The footage reveals U.S. Capitol Police escorting Jacob Chansley—clad in crimson, white, and blue face paint and a buffalo hat and who the media dubbed the “QAnon shaman”—by way of the Capitol to the Senate chamber. It additionally reveals Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick alive and strolling round after the media claimed that rioters had killed him. 

Sicknick died two days after Jan. 6 from two strokes, although CNN’s Anderson Cooper claimed the officer “died after being hit within the head with a fireplace extinguisher through the battle.” 

Wolf wrote, “There isn’t any method to unsee Officer Brian Sicknick, claimed by some Democrats in management and by many of the legacy media to have been killed by rioters on the Capitol that day, alive in at the very least one part of the newly launched video.” 

“Regardless of the reality of this complicated conclusion, and with all respect for and condolences to Officer Sicknick’s household, the circumstances of his dying do matter to the general public,” Wolf continued, “as with out his dying having been brought on by the occasions of Jan 6, the breach of the capitol, critical although it was, can’t be described as a ‘lethal rebel.’”  

Wolf disagreed with Carlson’s declare that the occasions of Jan. 6 have been “principally peaceable chaos,” as she mentioned a safety breach of a legislative establishment needs to be taken severely. However she praised Carlson’s launch of the footage as “worthwhile journalism.” 

Wolf denounced Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who criticized Carlson for airing the footage. 

“Isn’t the press alleged to need full transparency for all public curiosity occasions?” she requested.  

Each the violent protestors and people who contributed to a false narrative in regards to the occasions needs to be punished, based on Wolf.  

“Those that violently entered the Capitol or who engaged in violence within it, should in fact be held accountable. (As should violent protesters of each political stripe wherever),” she mentioned.  

“However as well as, anybody in management who misrepresented to the general public the occasions of the day in order to distort the complexity of its precise historical past—should even be held accountable,” Wolf continued.  

Wolf mentioned media protection of Jan. 6 demonizes peaceable Republicans and conservatives. People have been allowed to peacefully enter public buildings all through historical past, Wolf mentioned. 

“Within the media furor round Jan 6, it was erased from reminiscence that the White Home itself and the Capitol too have at all times been open to US residents and international guests,” Wolf wrote. “The inside of the Capitol is open to the general public. These are public buildings.” 

She mentioned U.S. authorities web sites say anybody can enter the Capitol, present ID, go to the Exhibition Corridor, and get tickets to observe Congress in session. The White Home used to carry open homes, and presidential inaugurations have been as soon as open to the general public, she reported.  

Wolf mentioned she believed a “farrago of lies” about Jan. 6 earlier than seeing the footage. 

“And, because of these lies, and my credulity—and the credulity of individuals equally located to me—many conservatives’ reputations are being tarnished, on false bases,” she wrote.  

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