Cuomo, Carlson discuss Jan. 6 and political division
- Ashli Babbitt was shot by Capitol Police during the Jan. 6 riots
- Carlson says women shouldn't be shot and that Babbitt wasn't a threat
- Cuomo notes both sides cherry-pick footage to support a certain narrative
(NewsNation) — In a conversation with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson explained his thoughts on the January 6 riots.
While both agreed the day’s events were not an “insurrection,” a view Cuomo noted makes some people angry, the death of Ashli Babbitt was a point of contention between the two.
Babbitt was part of a crowd of people pushing against a door and attempting to enter the House of Representatives chamber while officers were evacuating lawmakers.
“Don’t commit violence against women,” Carlson said.
“What was she doing at the time?” Cuomo responded. “She put that officer in fear of his life with 10 other people.”
The officer who shot Babbitt was not charged. After reviewing hours of tape, statements from witnesses, physical evidence and Babbitt’s autopsy, prosecutors determined there was not enough evidence to charge the Capitol Police officer with her death.
Cuomo also accused Carlson of cherry-picking footage from the riot but not without saying that all media networks use select footage to put forward a certain narrative, which he said was symptomatic of the divides in the U.S.
“January 6 was either no big deal, the BLM stuff was worse, or it was an insurrection, everybody there is treason,” Cuomo said of the opposing arguments. “We don’t like what the president does, it’s treason, you know, or he did nothing. Everything is like that.”