NJ family, GOP senator call Tucker Carlson’s Jan. 6 report ‘delusional, absurd’

⚫ Officer Brian Sicknick, a native of NJ, died after defending the Capitol on Jan. 6

⚫ His family said that Fox News stories downplaying the violent riot are 'propaganda'

⚫ A Republican state senator in NJ also called the report 'absurd'

The New Jersey family of fallen Capitol Police Office Brian Sicknick shot back an “outraged” response to recent Fox News stories aimed at downplaying the Capitol insurrection, saying it was an “ongoing attack on our family by the unscrupulous and outright sleazy so-called news network of Fox News.”

Sicknick was attacked by two men, also New Jersey natives, as violent supporters of President Donald Trump broke away from a peaceful demonstration and descended on the Capitol, according to federal prosecutors.

Sicknick suffered fatal strokes shortly after.

Tucker Carlson recently aired footage that he said showed that the mob had been peaceful and escorted.

"Every time the pain of that day seems to have ebbed a bit, organizations like Fox rip our wounds wide,” the Sicknick family statement continued, adding that the cable network has shown “time and time again that they are little more than the propaganda arm of the Republican party.”

Read More: Trump sued for $10M over Officer Sicknick's death after Jan. 6

On the talk host’s claim that Sicknick was not “slain” — the family said “Carlson’s ‘truth’ is to pick and choose footage that supports his delusional views that the Jan 6th Insurrection was peaceful.”

“Leave us the hell alone and instead of spreading more lies from Supreme Leader Trump, why don’t you focus on real news,” the Sicknick family said.

Julian Khater and George Tanios sentenced for attacking Officer Sicknick at the Capitol

In January, Julian Khater, of Somerset, was sentenced to more than six years in prison for attacking Sicknick during the riot.

Khater had attended the violent attempt to overthrow the Capitol alongside George Tanios, also a native of New Jersey who now lives in West Virginia. Both men were arrested in March 2021.

In addition to his 80-month sentence, the 33-year-old Khater was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution stemming from his conviction of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon, for the run-in with Sicknick and a second officer.

Tanios was sentenced to time served. He reportedly spent five months in pre-trial detention after his arrest.

Top Republican in NJ criticizes Fox News report

State Sen. Jon Bramnick, R-Union, also slammed the recent Fox News stories.

“The Fox News reports denying that January 6 was a violent riot are absurd,” Bramnick said in a written statement.

“We, as Republicans, must stand together and speak out against this nonsense. We shouldn’t fear extremists.”

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., called the Fox News stories "dangerously misleading."

More than two years later, the U.S. Department of Justice has filed charges against more than 1,000 people for their roles in the violence on Jan. 6, and more than 500 have been convicted.

Over 20 defendants with New Jersey ties are among those facing federal charges.

Erin Vogt is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at erin.vogt@townsquaremedia.com

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