Jan. 6 Committee Asks Sean Hannity To Cooperate With Capitol Riot Investigation

Topline

The House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is planning to reach out to Fox News host Sean Hannity, turning to one of the most prominent conservative figures in U.S. news media as it seeks more details about what led up to the attack and how the day’s events played out in the White House.

Key Facts

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the committee’s vice chairwoman, revealed last month that Hannity was part of a group of Fox News personalities who texted then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on January 6 imploring him to push President Donald Trump to tell his mob of supporters to leave the Capitol.

Hannity’s texts to Meadows said Trump needed to “make a statement” and to “ask people to leave the Capitol,” according to Cheney.

The news was first reported by Axios.

Hannity’s attorney Jay Sekulow told Axios “any such request would raise serious constitutional issues including First Amendment concerns regarding freedom of the press” (Fox News spokesman Connor Smith referred a request for comment to Sekulow’s statement).

Surprising Fact

Hannity immediately condemned the Capitol rioting when he opened his show on January 6, saying: “Those who support President Trump and believe they are part of the conservative movement in this country, we do not support those who commit acts of violence.”

Key Background

Trump was perhaps closer with Hannity than any member of the media during his presidency, repeatedly appearing for interviews on his primetime Fox News show, which was the most watched cable news program throughout his time in office. New York magazine reported in 2018 that Trump and Hannity spoke almost every day after Hannity’s show aired, with Hannity serving as “outside affirmation” telling Trump he was doing a good job as president. Hannity was reportedly one of just a handful of people—many being Trump’s family members—who were able to call Trump directly while he was president.

Tangent

The texts to Meadows were the first to publicly suggest Hannity had any communication with the White House on January 6. They came as part of a trove of documents Meadows handed over to the committee after being subpoenaed. But Meadows later reversed course and decided to stop cooperating with the investigation, claiming the committee was asking for information that should be shielded by executive privilege. The committee then voted to hold Meadows in contempt of Congress, with the full House voting December 14 to recommend the Justice Department indict Meadows for contempt.

Further Reading

Kayleigh McEnany, Stephen Miller Among Trump Officials Subpoenaed By House Jan. 6 Committee (Forbes)

Fox News Stars—Ingraham, Hannity, Kilmeade—Stay Mum Over Jan. 6 Texts Urging Trump To Take Action (Forbes)

Donald Trump and Sean Hannity Like to Talk Before Bedtime (New York)

Mark Meadows Reverses Course, Now Cooperating With Jan. 6 Committee (Forbes)

House Votes To Hold Mark Meadows In Contempt—Indictment Could Follow (Forbes)