GOP senator: Charlotte video could ease tension

by Jesse Byrnes - 09/23/16 12:15 PM ET

Republican Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) says releasing police video of a black man who was shot by officers in Charlotte, N.C., could ease tensions in the area after protests there turned violent this week.

“We’ve seen different agencies do it in different timing,” Scott, the only African-American member of the Senate, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday evening.

{mosads}”I will say, however, that the releasing of the video can diffuse some of the tension if what we will see on the video is helpful,” added Scott, noting he’s not a law enforcement official.

Authorities in Charlotte on Friday morning continued to refuse releasing video of the fatal police-involved shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

“I do believe the video should be released; the question is on the timing,” Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts (D) said Friday, according to The Associated Press.

Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney said there are at least two videos of the shooting, from a body camera and from a police dashboard camera.

Many have called on police to release the videos, arguing it could provide insight into differing accounts of the shooting.

Police say Keith Scott refused commands to drop a gun, while residents said he was unarmed. An attorney for his family said it was unclear from a video he saw whether Scott was holding anything.

The senator said more body cameras on law enforcement could provide “a better understanding and appreciation for the timing of the release.”

Charlotte’s police chief first said Thursday that officials would show many members video, but would not release it publicly, citing the ongoing investigation.

An attorney for Scott’s family said Thursday night that after viewing police dashboard and body camera videos, family members wanted the videos to be immediately released to the public.

Several members of the Congressional Black Caucus have also called for video to be released.

Tags Charlotte Tim Scott