Sean Hannity conveniently ignored Sally Yates’ damning revelations about the Trump White House yesterday and instead conjured up his own “scandal,” that nobody else on Fox News seems to be covering, based on Donald Trump’s “Obama wiretapped me” lie. Oh, and it just so happens that “scandal” could very well suit Hannity’s future, non-Fox plans.
Media Matters has a good summary of Yates’ testimony:
In testimony to a Senate Judiciary subcommittee investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election on May 8, Yates said she warned the Trump administration in late January that Flynn was “compromised” in his ability to execute the responsibilities of his position in an independent fashion. Nearly three weeks after Yates warned the administration, Trump asked for Flynn’s resignation. The move came only after The Washington Post reported that Flynn had communicated with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak regarding sanctions put in place by the Obama administration—“contrary to public assertions by Trump officials,” including Vice President Mike Pence. In her testimony, Yates said that “the Russians also knew that General Flynn had misled the vice president and others,” and that the indiscretion potentially exposed him to foreign blackmail. Yates added that when she brought her concerns to White House counsel Don McGahn, he reportedly asked her, “Why does it matter to DOJ if one White House official lies to another White House official?”
Hannity makes up a scandal that deflects from Russiagate
But Hannity never discussed Yates. Instead, he suggested he had some big scoop as the top story of his show (transcript excerpts via FoxNews.com, with my emphases):
HANNITY: But first tonight, explosive new details in a massive political scandal that is becoming Watergate on steroids. And that is tonight’s “Opening Monologue,” that the mainstream media ignores.
Circa News, which has been at the forefront of uncovering the massive surveillance scandal is now reporting new information that Congress should immediately begin investigating. The reports currently show a political scandal unlike anything we have now seen in American history and should deeply concern each and every one of you, the American people because your 4th Amendment right to privacy is now being trampled upon.
And the big question we need an answer to this evening—did the Obama administration under the guise of national security target the leader of an opposition party—Trump and his associates, and his transition team during the course of an election and post-election?
As it turned out, Hannity had no idea what the “answer” to his big question was. But that didn’t stop him from repeatedly suggesting otherwise.
Hannity displayed a chart “put together by our friends at Circa News.” I’ll have more on them later. The chart showed a big increase in U.S. names intercepted by the National Security Agency during intelligence gathering in 2016.
There could be lots of reasons for a spike in U.S. names in intercepts, especially given the fact that so many Donald Trump cronies are cozy with Russians – who were known to be interfering with our presidential election. And it could be perfectly normal for some spike to occur in presidential election years given that campaigns could very likely be in touch with foreign officials even on routine matters.
Yet Hannity seemed to have made no effort to get those “immediate answers” he thought so necessary. He hosted no intelligence experts, just his two pals from Circa News, Sara Carter and John Solomon.
Carter, you may recall, previously won Hannity’s admiration when she argued that Islamo-Mexican suicide bombers were poised to invade the U.S. That was in 2009. I don’t recall any follow up on that story, even though Hannity suggested that one such terrorist might “sneak in a nuke.”
How promoting Circa News could benefit Hannity
As for Circa News, it is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group which, it just so happens, is the conservative media conglomerate that may be Hannity’s next employer. Sinclair recently announced a $3.9 billion deal to acquire Tribune Media. In an article called, “Sinclair’s influence grows, thanks to Trump,” CNN reported, “If approved, that deal would add more than 40 local television stations to the roster of 173 Sinclair already has across the country. If Sinclair’s history is any guide, these stations may become more conservative.”
How very convenient for Circa to be hyping such a story that coincides with Trump’s own deflection from Russiagate!
To top all that off, there is considerable speculation that Sinclair will launch a competitor to Fox News right at the time that Hannity may be eager to leave Fox. He reportedly has a “key man clause” that would allow him to quit any time.
With unintentional hilarity, Hannity announced, “It is now time to put cheap partisan politics aside, protect our Constitution, get to the truth.”
Which was little more than a precursor for exactly the kind of partisan politics Hannity feigned distaste for: “And what we need to know is, what did President Obama, top administration officials Ben Rhodes, James Clapper, John Brennan, Valerie Jarett, Susan Rice know, and when did they know it? We need to know if a sitting administration targeted political opposition and a political opponent during a presidential election year.”
Yet Hannity didn’t “need to know” why the spike had occurred. He concluded, “So either the terrorist threat in this country has gone up that significantly, or in an election year, our NSA, our intelligence communities were gathering information on political opponents to use against them and trampling on our 4th Amendment constitutional rights. What is the more likely reason?”
Both Solomon and Carter said more information was needed to know why.
By the way, if Fox News thinks there is anything to this story, it would be all over the network which is similarly eager to deflect from Russiagate. Yet I have only seen Solomon, Carter and their reporting covered on Hannity.
Watch the self-serving baloney below, from the May 8, 2017 Hannity.
Sinclair is a Fux Noise wannabe right now. But with all the stations at their command, I wouldn’t be surprised to soon see a Circa News Network. And it will be ugly.
The Foxies’ racism and sexism culture will be attached to this old Long Island hawk’s name beyond his retirement. He will be remembered as the man who looked away when his female colleagues were sexually assaulted or sexually harassed. He said nothing about the prevalent racism at this demonic network.
Companies that have anti-discrimination and anti-sexism policies in place will be leery of hiring him to speak at their events. They would look like hypocrites in front of their employees and staff.
There are Long Island faith-based organizations, and other nonprofits who do business with these Fox “News” frauds. These organizations work with children. What a great ‘example’ they are setting to these kids. Associating with a mouthpiece who works at a network that’s under criminal investigation, and dealing with growing lawsuits against them. These organizers, including that so-called ‘christian’ husband and wife who operate that ‘home for boys’ have zero values and credibility. We add another Long Island nonprofit organization that raises money for sick kids. These women who run this organization need to re-evaluate their associations with a certain individual and his wife.
Companies, nonprofit organizations, or faith-based institutions should stay clear of all the Foxie mouthpieces. They can’t afford to have their names attached to Fox “News” massive lawsuits and criminal investigations.
More shockers coming down the pipeline.
I’m speechless. Yates was talking about the national security advisor, wasn’t she?