By Dan Murphy
Fox News host Sean Hannity, a big supporter of former President Donald Trump, has had text messages he sent to White House staff on Jan. 6, 2021 released to the public. The text messages come as a result of a House of Representatives Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC.
A letter from the committee requesting that Hannity respond to their questions about his texts, include the texts that many are talking about, including the former President.
“We can’t lose the entire WH counsel’s office. I do NOT see January 6 happening the way he is being told. He should announce will lead the nationwide effort to reform voter integrity. Go to Fl and watch Joe mess up daily. Stay engaged. When he speaks people will listen,” dec. 31, 2020 to Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
“I’m very worried about the next 48 hours.” He added: “Pence pressure. WH counsel will leave.” Jan. 5, 2021 to Meadows
Can he make a statement? Ask people to leave the Capitol,” he said in one message. Hannity added: “Ask people to peacefully leave the Capitol.” Jan. 6 to Meadows.
Jan. 10, 2021, to Rep. Jim Jordan. “Guys, we have to clear a path to land the plane in nine days. 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?”
The House committee, in its letter, said it believes that Hannity “had advance knowledge regarding President Trump’s and his legal team’s planning for Jan. 6.”
Hannity’s text do not appear to show he had any knowledge about what was to happen on Jan. 6, and in fact he tried to get President Trump to leave office calmly and to fight another day.
Do not confuse the real Sean Hannity, whose texts express concern about what was happening on Jan. 6, with Sean Hannity, FOX News host, who is one of the two most popular conservative talk show hosts in the country.
Hannity was also a close advisor of President Trump for his four years in office. But now the former President commented on Hannity’s tweets once they became public by saying “I disagree with Sean on that statement and the facts are proving me right.”
The possible rift between Trump and Hannity proves the point that Hannity is not to blame for the violence on Jan. 6. I think he is too smart to get involved in any planning or preparations for that day.
As someone who did not vote for Trump, or Hillary, I find that Hannity was trying to do the right thing in the days leading up to the Jan. 6 attacks. And for that I say thank you. Unfortunately, I see both sides of our deeply divided country saying that either, Hannity knew more about what was going to happen and should be subpoenaed, or that Hannity has betrayed President Trump and can no longer be trusted.
There are a few of us who see it differently, and sit in the middle of our American discourse.
