Newly released messages between FOX News anchor Sean Hannity and former President Donald Trump‘s chief of staff Mark Meadows, show that Hannity tried to talk Trump out of his January 6 strategy.
The texts were obtained by the House committee in their investigation into the Capitol riot.
Hannity tried to persuade Trump to let the 2020 election go.
On January 10, Hannity sent a text to Meadows and Trump ally, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
“Guys, we have a clear path to land the plane in 9 days,” Hannity wrote. “He can’t mention the election again. Ever. I did not have a good call with him today. And worse, I’m not sure what is left to do or say, and I don’t like not knowing if it’s truly understood. Ideas?”
Instead of speaking out about a “rigged” election, Hannity encouraged the Trump team to accept defeat and go back to Florida to focus on election reforms.
“Stay engaged,” Hannity wrote. “When he speaks people will listen.”
First Amendment violations could be raised by calling a member of the media like Hannity to an interview, but the panel confirmed that they did not “seek information regarding any of your broadcasts, or your political views or commentary.”
Previously released texts also showed Hannity trying to advise Trump during his presidency. Hannity told Trump and his team that they needed to put out a statement to ask people to leave the Capitol last January 6.
Questions have also been raised about whether or not Hannity’s advice to Trump proves his bias, though Hannity himself has always welcomed and claimed the title “advocacy journalist or opinion journalist.”
