Before being released from Fox News, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson obtained exclusive access to security tapes from the January 6th Capitol riot — and it had Democratic leaders demanding Carlson be fired from Fox.
Did Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have a role in Carlson’s departure from Fox News in a 31-second video?
Some congressional Democrats were planning to publicize different parts of the tape, as counter-programming. “We all should have a formal game plan as it relates to this very serious and sober issue of the security and the well-being of people who work on the Capitol complex,” House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., reportedly said last month.
Schumer himself directly called on Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch to oust Carlson. Schumer cited concerns about democracy reform.
“These lies continue tonight,” Schumer told reporters on March 7.
“Rupert Murdoch, who has admitted they were lies and said he regretted it, has a special obligation to stop Tucker Carlson from going on tonight, now that he’s seen how he has perverted and slimed the truth, and from letting him go on again and again and again — not because their views deserve such opprobrium, but because our democracy depends on it.”
Six weeks later, Carlson left Fox News with no explanation for the stunning move.
The break comes less than a week after Fox agreed to pay $787 million to settle a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems. Carlson was also recently named in a lawsuit by a former Fox producer who alleged that Carlson’s show had a cruel and misogynistic workplace.
Take a look —
Schumer: "Rupert Murdoch has a special obligation to stop Tucker Carlson from going on tonight [and] from letting him go on again and again and again [because] our democracy depends on it." pic.twitter.com/uld6eaCl3C
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 7, 2023
Certain congressional leaders have become close to Carlson. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy willingly gave Carlson the Capitol’s security tapes. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., issued a statement of optimism about Carlson’s future.
Schumer himself has yet to comment on Carlson’s departure from Fox News. But he wasn’t the only powerful force in D.C. calling for Carlson’s ouster.
On Sunday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called for federal regulators to punish Carlson, but Ocasio-Cortez has yet to tweet about Carlson’s exit as of Monday afternoon.
Still, unlike the elected Democrats, the liberal pundits have been gloating ever since hearing the news of Carlson’s exit.
“Tucker Carlson had become even bigger than Fox News,” said Brian Stelter, who’s writing an upcoming second book about Fox, “Network of Lies.” “His sudden ouster will have profound consequences for Fox News, for TV news and the Republican Party.”
When Carlson’s departure was announced during a live showing of the ABC daytime talk show “The View” on Monday, the studio audience applauded. Host Ana Navarro then led the crowd in a sing-along to a line from the song, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.”
Take a look —
The studio audience at @TheView broke out in applause when Tucker Carlson's ouster was announced. Then the co-hosts did a wave and led the crowd in singing "GOODBYE." pic.twitter.com/BVNnMDLzdq
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 24, 2023
Remember when Pelosi kicked me off of all my committees?
I was set free.
So is Tucker Carlson.
Can’t wait. 😎— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) April 24, 2023
The Associated Press and The Horn editorial team contributed to this article.