‘Was He in on It’? Stelter Suggests Hannity Helped Plot Capitol Riot

Brian Stelter of CNN Media Bootlicker understood his Tuesday assignment. The Democrat-led House January 6 Committee asked for Sean Hannity to discuss his messages to former Trump Administration officials. Stelter laughed at Hannity’s serious First Amendment questions.

Meanwhile, on ABC’s World News Tonight, chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl shared the messages in question and they didn’t show that at all. They actually proved that they were the exact opposite.

At 3:00 p.m. CNN Newsroom, co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Victor Blackwell announced the story and went to Stelter for his “reaction.” And the excitement in his voice was palpable as he opened by accusing Hannity of lying to his audience (Click “expand”):

Well, I think the big question that a lot of people are going to want to know, including Sean Hannity’s viewers, is: What is Sean Hannity trying to hide? Hannity knows something that isn’t obvious to his audience.

His audience is millions, and they trust him. They believe him even when he gives them plenty of reasons not to. What has he done to them over the last year?

Hannity’s lawyer raised questions about the First Amendment and his role as a media figure, but Stelter dismissed them because he said Hannity was former President Trump’s “shadow chief-of-staff” and we needed to know “What the shadow chief of staff knew about the events leading to the riot.”

Stelter also made the ridiculous argument that because Hannity was a critic of the media, he didn’t have a First Amendment right:

Let’s not forget that Sean Hannity repeatedly has claimed loudly over the past 11 to 12 years that journalism in America is dead. Although he claims journalism is gone, every time a request comes in from a legal body he does not like, he immediately takes up the First Amendment flag to declare that this would be a violation of the First Amendment.

It was also clear that only their First Amendment rights were of concern to liberal media.

“Does he know of any other way to get involved? We are learning more about the vast conspiracy, as we all know. Did he know about it? It’s possible he will want to tell me if not.,” he speculated without evidence.

Camerota stared at him seemingly bewildered by what she had heard in Stelter’s rant and blinked as she wondered pointedly: “Well, I mean, when you say ‘what is he hiding,’ you mean if he refuses to show up. At the moment, what makes you think that he’s hiding anything?”

Stelter stated that Hannity believed he had plotted the riot. Stelter was a Trump supporter who talked on the phone with Hannity before and after his shows, just like other CNN journalists when talking to their friends.

But apparently, the committee released the messages and CNN seemingly didn’t want to share them. Perhaps it’s because they really didn’t show what Stelter claimed they did. Karl’s messages on ABC clearly showed Hannity as being out of the loop for the weeks leading up to January 6. They also revealed that Hannity wasn’t paying attention during and after that time.

He texted, quote, “We can’t lose the entire White House counsel’s office. I do not see January 6 happening the way he is being told.” On January 5th, the day before the insurrection, the committee says Hannity seemed to sound the alarm, texting, “I’m very worried about the next 48 hours.”

These worries were confirmed the following day. During the riot, Hannity texted meadows, quote, “can he make a statement, ask people to leave the Capitol?” That night on Fox News, Hannity condemned the rioters.

Karl pointed out that Hannity also condemned the rioters. He called on them to serve time in prison.

Click “expand” for more information:

CNN Newsroom
January 4, 2022
Eastern, 3:52 p.m.

VICTOR BLACKWELL: Brian, we know there were the text messages that Hannity sent to Mark Meadows, then chief of staff: ‘Can he deliver some remarks, can he ask people to leave the capitol?’ Your reaction now to this appeal from the committee to get Hannity to cooperate.

BRIAN STELTER: Well, I think the big question that a lot of people are going to want to know, including Sean Hannity’s viewers, is what is Sean Hannity hiding? Hannity is astonished at what he has been doing to his audience.

He has millions of followers who can trust him and who have faith in him. What has he done to them over the last year?

I think it’s very significant this is voluntary, it’s not a subpoena. This isn’t a case where there will be a heated First Amendment debate. It is possible that it could escalate to the point where there are interesting questions regarding the role of media personalities who act as shadow chiefs-of staff for former presidents and the knowledge that this shadow chief-of–staff had in the days before the riot. While this issue is worthy of First Amendment consideration, it’s a voluntary one.

Let’s not forget that Sean Hannity repeatedly has claimed loudly over the past 11 to 12 years that journalism in America is dead. Although he claims journalism is gone, every time a legal committee requests him to do so, he takes the First Amendment flag with him and declares that this would be a violation of the First Amendment.

It really boils down to this key question. He is hiding something. Is there anything he’s learned over the past year which he didn’t tell his viewers, or the general public? Does he know anything? We are learning more about the vast conspiracy, as we all know. Did he know about it? He’ll be sharing his thoughts if he isn’t.

ALISYN CAMEROTA: Well, I mean, when you say “what is he hiding,” you mean if he refuses to show up. Is there anything that you can think he might be hiding at this moment?

STELTER – Well, I think he has promoted Trumpism for the past one year, even though on January 6, he was texting to protest what was being done, just as so many Fox News employees.

It’s no secret that Hannity was the Trump sycophant who most influenced the president over the years. Trump spoke with him on the telephone before and after his primetime programs. The two of them produced one another’s shows, while Trump produced Trump’s presidency.

He knows far more about the events between Election Day, and the insurrection than anyone has ever shared. Because he was talking on the phone, I believe that is true. Alisyn points out that he was using texting to communicate and this leads us to the more important issue. It is the pro-Trump media which set the scene for the violence. That’s what the 1/6 committee is going to investigate.

(…)

ABC’s World News Tonight
January 4, 2022
Eastern, 6:45:43

(…)

JONATHAN KARL : Hannity warned Meadows, one week before the insurrection began, that White House top lawyers would be resigning en masse if Trump’s attempts to overturn his election plans.

He texted, quote, “We can’t lose the entire White House counsel’s office. I do not see January 6 happening the way he is being told.” On January 5th, the day before the insurrection, the committee says Hannity seemed to sound the alarm, texting, “I’m very worried about the next 48 hours.”

These fears became reality the day after. During the riot, Hannity texted meadows, quote, “can he make a statement, ask people to leave the Capitol?” That night on Fox News, Hannity condemned the rioters.

SEAN HANNITY

KARL Writing, quote, “He can’t mention the election again. Ever. Today, I didn’t have a great call with him. 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.”

(…)