Former President Donald Trump voiced his frustration with Fox News host Sean Hannity over text messages he sent to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
On Tuesday evening, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins posted the text message and Trump’s response to Twitter.
“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?” Hannity said to Meadows.
Trump told Collins via a spokesman, “I disagree with Sean on that statement and the facts are proving me right.”
The Hannity text: “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?"
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 5, 2022
The House select committee investigating the riot released other text messages from Hannity to Meadows.
“We can’t lose the entire WH counsel’s office. I do not see January 6 happening the way he is being told. After the 6th. [sic] He should announce will lead the nationwide effort to reform voting integrity. Go to Fl and watch Joe mess up daily. Stay engaged. When he speaks people will listen,” Hannity wrote.
On Tuesday, the committee requested voluntary cooperation of Hannity, as The Washington Post reported.
In a letter to the Fox News host, the committee said they had material that indicated he “had advance knowledge regarding President Trump’s and his legal team’s planning for January 6th.”
“You also had relevant communications while the riot was underway, and in the days thereafter,” Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) and Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) wrote. “These communications make you a fact witness in our investigation.”
Jay Sekulow, Hannity’s attorney, said to the Post in an email, “The request raises serious constitutional issues. We are reviewing the Committees letter and will respond as appropriate.”
Meadows also received text messages from other Fox News hosts, as IJR reported.
Laura Ingraham texted, “Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go Home. This is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy.”
Brian Kilmeade urged Meadows to “get him on TV,” adding, “Destroying everything you have accomplished.”
After Cheney read the messages during a committee meeting, they voted to hold Meadows in criminal contempt for refusing to cooperate.
