HOUSE Speaker Mike Johnson has started to release security tapes of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The Republican leader wishes to provide Americans with more than 44,000 hours of footage so they can draw their own conclusions on what happened that day.

On January 6, 2021, a mob of people protesting the 2020 election results broke into the Capitol building in Washington D.C.

Many were inspired to move by tweets shared by former president Donald Trump who claimed that the election was stolen.

More than 1,100 people have been charged since the attack which has stirred online controversy over its severity.

Conservative leaders argue that it was a peaceful protest while others deemed it an insurrection of democracy.

The debate over January 6 led Johnson to create a cache of security footage with the Committee on House Administration and release it on their website.

Footage from the day was previously only available for private showings to elected officials, defendants, and members of the media.

In a statement, Johnson said that the videos would give Americans a chance to see for themselves what happened “rather than rely upon the interpretation of a small group of government officials.”

The release fulfilled a promise the newly-elected speaker made to GOP leaders like Rep Matt Gaetz who helped usher him into the position.

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Johnson said the faces of citizens will be blurred to protect their identity, and about 5% of the total footage will be redacted for security reasons.

So far, the limited footage has captured a wave of protesters barging through the halls while teams of Capitol Police in riot gear surround them.

Rioters used bike racks and flag poles to smash through windows and get access to the building.

Elected officials were also seen walking out of the building with security escorts.

But the video hasn’t captured some more grisly scenes, including the moment one person died after they were shot by police.

Three others died from natural causes during or after the event, and a fourth died from overdosing.

Democrat leaders have blasted the release of the footage, saying that the videos could be a breach of security.

Rep Joe Morelle, a top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, said: “While the name on the door to the Speaker’s suite has changed, the office’s mission to undermine the Capitol Police and politicize Capitol security continues unabated.”

The release was highly discouraged by Capitol police, according to Morelle said it was “unconscionable” to allow “virtually unfettered access” to the footage.

Meanwhile, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to applaud the speaker “for having the courage and fortitude” to release the footage.

Ousted speaker Kevin McCarthy was also pressured to release footage to the public and was heavily criticized for providing it only to conservative pundit Tucker Carlson who shared clips on his show with Fox News.