For more than two years, Democrats and leftist media outlets have dutifully described the Jan. 6, 2021, protest as a deadly insurrection and one of the biggest threats to American democracy in the history of the nation.
In recent days, however, that rhetoric has seemingly shifted, with news headlines describing Jan. 6 as a “protest” or “demonstration.”
RECEIPTS:
WaPo, NYTimes, Bloomberg, and Rolling Stone are now not referring to Jan 6 as an insurrection or even a riot bc they are now defending Ray Epps
Now Jan 6 was 'rallies,' 'demonstrations,' and 'protests' pic.twitter.com/D5zAlxicbP
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 13, 2023
The notable change comes as Ray Epps pursues a defamation lawsuit against Fox News. Certain on-air personalities at the cable news network have advanced the theory that Epps, a former Marine who was on Capitol Hill ahead of the protest, was working on behalf of the FBI to stoke disorder in supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
Despite multiple videos that seem to show Epps egging on protesters and rallying them to approach the Capitol building, he has yet to face criminal prosecution. Hundreds of others who were in D.C. at the time, however, have been unceremoniously locked up on serious charges related to their alleged involvement.
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and others on the network have pointed out the absence of any charges against Epps as possible evidence that he was a government plant. In accordance with his lawsuit, however, Epps has indicated that he expects to be charged in connection with his involvement in the protest.
“Although it is difficult to believe that the Department of Justice would have pursued this matter if Fox had not focused its lies on Epps, ultimately the criminal charges conclusively demonstrate the falsehood of the story that Mr. Carlson and Fox told about Epps,” wrote attorney Brian Farnan in the court complaint.
Further fueling the conspiracy has been news coverage that seems to portray Epps as a victim of sorts while roundly condemning everyone else who was in the vicinity on the day of the protest.
Despite his favorable treatment by the media, Epps claims his life has been uprooted as a result of claims by Carlson and others.
Asserting that he has been forced to sell his home in response to threats, the lawsuit states: “In the aftermath of the events of January 6th, Fox News searched for a scapegoat to blame other than Donald Trump or the Republican Party. Eventually, they turned on one of their own.”
