Fox News' Sean Hannity had expressed concerns about what Donald Trump was planning on January 6 and was bracing for an exodus of White House lawyers as a result, according to texts revealed by the House select committee investigating the insurrection.
The committee has asked Hannity to voluntarily cooperate with the inquiry—meaning he has not been subpoenaed like a number of other Trump allies—over the "dozens of text messages" he sent to the former president's circle in the days before and after the January 6 attack at the Capitol.
The committee said the texts sent by the Fox News host show that he was "expressing concerns and providing advice" to Trump and White House staff regarding the plans for January 6 about the former president's efforts to contest the outcome of the 2020 Election.
Concerns Over White House Counsel Leaving
On December 31, Hannity expressed fears over the White House legal team's response to the plans while texting former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
"We can't lose the entire WH counsels office. I do NOT see January 6 happening the way he is being told. After the 6 th. [sic] He should announce will lead the nationwide effort to reform voting integrity," Hannity wrote.
"Go to Fl and watch Joe mess up daily. Stay engaged. When he speaks people will listen."
Hannity is also alleged to have messaged Meadows on the eve of the attack with concerns about Trump's plans to persuade former Vice President Mike Pence to stop the results being certified during his purely ceremonial role as presiding officer of the Senate on January 6.
"Pence pressure. WH counsel will leave," Hannity wrote on Janaury 5.
The committee said the texts to Meadows shows Hannity "had knowledge of concerns" by Trump's White House Counsel's Office regarding the legality of the former president's plans for January 6.
Apparent January 6 Fears
The panel is also asking Hannity to explain a "stream of texts" he wrote January 5 prior to the insurrection.
"Im very worried about the next 48 hours," Hannity wrote, according to the panel. It is unclear whom Hannity sent the message to.
In their letter to Hannity, the committee chairmen and rep. Bennie Thompson and vice chair rep. Liz Cheney asked: "With the counting of the electoral votes scheduled for January 6th at 1 p.m., why were you concerned about the next 48 hours?"
Communications with Trump
The panel said in the days after the attack at the Capitol, Hannity also appeared to have "detailed knowledge" regarding Trump's state of mind, including having a discussion with him on January 10 that may have raised a "number of specific concerns" about his possible actions in the days before President Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20.
In a text message to Meadows and rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican and staunch Trump ally, Hannity said: "Guys, we have a clear path to land the plane in 9 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?"
Plot to Remove Trump
Hannity is also reported to have messaged Meadows regarding potential effort by members of Trump's cabinet to remove him from office under the 25th Amendment over his role in the January 6 attack.
The Committee is seeking information from Sean Hannity.
— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) January 4, 2022
Chair @BennieGThompson and Vice Chair @RepLizCheney request Hannity answer questions about matters including communications between Hannity and the former President, Mark Meadows, and others in the days surrounding Jan 6th. pic.twitter.com/wXtOGSsneg
The House Select committee said the texts from Hannity appear to show that he had "factual information directly relevant to the events of January 6th and the attack on the institutions of our democracy" while urging him to cooperate.
"We have no doubt that you love our country and respect our Constitution. Now is the time to step forward and serve the interests of your country," the letter concluded.
In a statement to Newsweek, Hannity's lawyer Jay Sekulow, said: "We are evaluating the letter from the committee. We remain very concerned about the constitutional implications especially as it relates to the First Amendment. We will respond as appropriate."
Hannity did condemn the actions of those who stormed the Capitol on January 6 and called for them to be "arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," but has never been critical of Trump's alleged incitement of his supporters or his continuous pushing of false cries of widespread election fraud.
The Fox News host was previously criticized for lack of impartiality and breach of journalistic ethics after the committee revealed he had texted Meadows while the attack was taking place to try and persuade Trump to end the violence.
"Can he make a statement? Ask people to leave the Capitol," Hannity wrote.
Speaking to MSNBC on Tuesday, Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who is on the committee, said the messages show that Hannity was "more than a Fox host; he was also a confidant, adviser, campaigner for the former president."
Update 01/05/2022: This article has been updated with comment form Jay Sekulow.
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