Jan.6 Commission Seeks Fox News' Sean Hannity to Cooperate

Fox News anchors object to legitimacy in 1:43 elections

(CNN) -

Fox News anchor Sean Hannity was concerned about former President Donald Trump's strategy and conduct before, during and after the Jan.6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, according to a letter from the commission on Tuesday. select of the House of Representatives investigating the insurrection.

The commission asked Hannity to voluntarily cooperate with its investigation, noting that it had received "dozens" of his text messages exchanged with former White House Secretary General Mark Meadows, indicating that he had "prior knowledge of the planning of the President Trump and his legal team for January 6. "

In the letter, the panel said it wants to speak to Hannity specifically about her communications with Trump, White House staff and his legal team between December 31, 2020 and January 20, 2021, when Joe Biden took office.

Hannity's attorney, Jay Sekulow, told CNN: "We are reviewing the commission's letter and will respond as appropriate."

The commission said it has text messages from Hannity rejecting the plan to urge Congress to challenge the certification of the Jan.6 election and urging Trump to prepare for his removal from office.

On January 5, Hannity wrote that she was "very worried about the next 48 hours."

In its letter, the commission asked Hannity: "With the electoral vote counting scheduled for January 6 at 1 pm, why were you worried about the next 48 hours?"

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  The Jan. 6 interim report on the Capitol storming is critical to saving America's democracy.

The commission also cited a separate exchange from December 31, 2020, in which Hannity wrote to Meadows: "We can't lose the entire White House advisory office. I don't see January 6 happening the way they tell it. After the 6th [sic] you should announce that you will lead the national effort to reform voting integrity. Go to Fl and watch Joe make mistakes every day. Stay involved. When he speaks people will listen. "

The commission said Hannity appeared to have "detailed knowledge of President Trump's state of mind."

He further noted that Hannity spoke directly to Trump on January 5 about "his planning for January 6" and on January 10, when Hannity "may have raised a number of specific concerns about his possible actions in the days leading up to the taking. of possession of January 20 ".

On January 5, Hannity wrote that he was "very concerned about the next 48 hours" and referred to then-Vice President Mike Pence, who oversaw the certification of the 2020 election, saying: "Pressure from Pence. The White House attorney it will go".

And on January 6, Hannity urged Meadows to tell Trump that he should "ask the people to peacefully leave" the Capitol. Before sending his letter, the commission revealed that he had text messages from Hannity to Meadows on the day of the assault. , in which he asked Trump to take action.

Watch the assault on the Capitol from the middle of the crowd 0:42

Before Meadows stopped cooperating with the commission, it released 6,000 documents, including a text message with Hannity on Jan.6 explaining how Trump should act.

According to the text released by the commission, Hannity told Meadows: "Can you make a statement? Ask people to leave the Capitol?"

Hannity wasn't the only Fox News anchor who urged Meadows to take action.

According to the documents on file, the commission has a message from Laura Ingraham to Meadows that says, "Mark, the president needs to tell the people on Capitol Hill to go home. This is hurting us all. It is destroying his legacy."

• Federal officials warn that the anniversary of the assault on the Capitol may be exploited by certain actors, but they do not cite specific or credible threats.

Brian Kilmeade of Fox News texted Meadows saying, "'Please put it on TV. Destroying all that you have accomplished."

Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who serves as the commission's vice chair, revealed these text messages last month as the commission was going through the process of indicting Meadows on a possible count of criminal contempt of Congress.

"In fact, according to the records, several Fox News anchors knew that the president had to act immediately," Cheney said at the time.

"They sent a text message to Mr. Meadows, and he has delivered those messages."

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