Former 'Democratic Party icon' apologizes to conservatives; lauds release of January 6 footage

Feminist author Naomi Wolf offered a formal apology to conservatives who "put America first" after reviewing newly-released footage of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

"Peaceful Republicans and conservatives as a whole have been demonized by the story told by Democrats in leadership of what happened that day," Wolf said in a lengthy post on Substack Thursday.

"Republicans, conservatives, I am sorry. I also believed wholesale so much else that has since turned out not to be as I was told it was by NPR, MSNBC and the New York Times," Wolf also said.

"Anyone in leadership who misrepresented to the public the events of the day so as to distort the complexity of its actual history — must also be held accountable," she added.

Wolf compared the release of the new January 6 footage to Daniel Ellsberg's release of the Pentagon Papers, noting that Leftists lionized the latter while condemning the former.

Who is Naomi Wolf?

Wolf, a "lifelong liberal and civil libertarian" is a prominent feminist, author, commentator, and periodic guest on Fox News Channel shows.

She was a figurehead of 1990s "third wave feminism" and was once a "Democratic Party insider," according to Business Insider.

Wolf's "impeccable" Democratic Party bonafides came into question when "The Beauty Myth" author gave an interview to Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson in 2021 and later appeared on Steve Bannon's "WarRoom" podcast, the outlet also said.

Wolf was a vocal opponent of COVID lockdowns and related policies. The Yale alum lead a protest against her alma mater's vaccine policy in December 2022.

Why is she apologizing now?

Wolf says her apology was spurred by the recent release of previously unseen footage of the January 6 Capitol riot. The footage was released by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson, who aired portions of the footage on his nightly show earlier this week.

Both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) denounced the decision to air the footage.

In her letter, Wolf specifically cites footage of "Q-Anon Shaman" Jacob Chansley and Officer Brian Sicknick which appear to contravene the narratives she previously espoused.

How has Wolf's apology been received?

"This is pretty courageous," Jason Whitlock tweeted Friday in response to Wolf's apology.

"I am one of those people who was targeted and brutalized in all of this horrific dishonesty. I still am," Walkaway campaign founder Brandon Straka tweeted.

"This helps."

"Amazing letter from Naomi Wolf. Well done to her. I do not define myself politically but these lies affected us all & it’s been years of frustration (agony at times) watching them play out & seeing so many be deceived," journalist Lara Logan tweeted Friday.

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