Judicial Watch has filed a lawsuit against Washington, D.C., demanding the release of bodycam footage from Metropolitan Police Department officers recorded during the January 6 Capitol protests. This follows nearly three years of unsuccessful attempts to access the footage through a FOIA request, initially blocked due to an ongoing criminal investigation.
Officer Michael Fanone, who was attacked during the riot and later testified before Congress, stated that his bodycam footage documented the violence he faced. Despite his efforts and retirement, the footage remains unreleased.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton has criticized the lack of transparency, asserting, “The American people deserve the full picture from the incident at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.”
Fitton further argued that the investigation’s handling has been politicized, emphasizing the public’s right to access the footage. “None of the rules for the disclosure, transparency, prosecution investigation have been followed,” he lamented. “This body cam footage is certainly going to be of the in the public interest to get out sooner rather than later.”
Fanone has also advocated for the footage’s release. During his testimony to the House Select Committee, he remarked, “My body camera captured the violence of the crowd directed toward me during those very frightening moments. It’s an important part of the record for this Committee’s investigation and for the country’s understanding of how I was assaulted and nearly killed as the mob attacked the Capitol that day, and I hope that everyone will be able to watch it.”
The lawsuit by Judicial Watch aims to ensure transparency and provide the public with a comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired on January 6.
