Watch Sean Hannity and Mark Meadows ignore bombshell January 6 texts between them while excusing Donald Trump’s role in the insurrection

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

From the December 13, 2021, edition of Fox News' Hannity

SEAN HANNITY (HOST): First, I guess I’ll get your reaction to the January 6 vote, 9-0, it will now go before the House, but we already know this is a predetermined outcome. Didn't we learn that when they kicked Jim Jordan and Jim Banks off the committee?

MARK MEADOWS (FORMER TRUMP CHIEF OF STAFF): Well, we did. Obviously it’s disappointing but not surprising. And let’s be clear about this, Sean. This is not about me, holding me in contempt. It’s not even about making the Capitol safer. We see that by some of the selective leaks that are going on right now. This is about Donald Trump and actually going after him once again, continuing to go after Donald Trump, and when we look at the real results of this investigation, it is not really -- the foundation is not really based on legislative purpose.

…

HANNITY: I noticed they haven’t been focused on President Trump’s actual words at the rally that day, “Many of you will now peacefully and patriotically march to the Capitol so your voices may be heard.” I didn’t hear in any of that, congressman, many of you will march peacefully -- not peacefully and not patriotically and invade the Capitol. Now, the fact that they are ignoring your request, they’re ignoring the president’s request, they’re ignoring the Capitol Police chief’s request earlier for support from the National Guard, which is, especially after the summer of 2020, that’s just good common sense, that’s good policing. That’s for the protection of everybody.

MEADOWS: You're exactly right.

According to messages released by the House select committee investigating the Capitol attack, Hannity was one of several Fox News personalities who contacted Meadows on January 6 asking for Trump to end the insurrection.

“Can he make a statement?” the Fox prime-time host reportedly pleaded to the president's chief of staff. “Ask people to leave the Capitol.”