SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has called for an investigation of the House Jan. 6 Committee after the release of security footage from inside the Capitol, claiming that the committee selectively ignored evidence. Lee raised questions about why former Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), the only Republican members of the committee, did not refer to the video showing police assisting rioters inside the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Lee’s call for an investigation came as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) began releasing 40,000 hours of security camera footage from the Capitol riots. Johnson stated that this decision would provide the public, media, and others the ability to see for themselves what happened that day, rather than relying solely on the interpretation of a small group of government officials.

The Capitol riots on Jan. 6 resulted in over 1,100 people being charged with crimes and more than 400 with assaulting police officers, according to the Justice Department. The rioters caused an estimated $1.5 million in damage to the Capitol Building, as reported by the Architect of the Capitol.

Lee continued to question the selective leaking of text messages of Republicans and the possible oversight of evidence by Cheney and Kinzinger. These statements by Lee reflect growing tension surrounding the investigation into the Capitol riots and the actions of the House Jan. 6 Committee.

In the midst of ongoing debates and investigations, the release of the Capitol security footage and the call for further scrutiny by Sen. Mike Lee have refueled discussions about the events of Jan. 6 and the actions of those involved.