Sean Hannity is in trouble. He has to make the devil’s choice, just like Bannon. Hannity has no basis for resisting the committee’s subpoena he will receive if he doesn’t cooperate (as he was asked today), none, and will be criminally charged, just like Bannon, or go in and talk, possibly lie, possibly invoke the 5th himself (if he knew of any plan), and possibly lose his friendship with Trump.

But we all know that Hannity was an unofficial member of the Trump campaign as spokesperson and media consultant, and it’s possible that Hannity knows quite a bit. Hannity might know it’s all bullshit, too.

The Committee let Hannity know that they already know quite a bit already and that Hannity is fukt regardless. Emptywheel has an article about the fact that Trump has waived a lot of privileges by talking to Hannity. None of the privileges would ever have applied to Hannity, they might have applied to Trump’s talks with Meadows or any of the attorneys. But now will not.

The letter to Hannity could have been cc’d to Trump because Trump is the intended addressee. Per Empty Wheel, the Committee wrote:

The Select Committee is in possession of dozens of text messages you sent to and received from former White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows and others related to the 2020 election and President Trump’s efforts to contest the outcome of the vote. At this time, we are specifically focused on a series of your communications with President Trump, White House staff and President Trump’s legal team between December 31, 2020, and January 20, 2021. For example, on December 31, 2020, you texted Mr. Meadows the following:

“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.

Go to Fl and watch Joe mess up daily. Stay engaged. When he speaks people will listen.”

Among other things, this text suggests that you had knowledge of concerns by President Trump’s White House Counsel’s Office regarding the legality of the former President’s plans for January 6th. These facts are directly relevant to our inquiry.

Similarly, on January 5th, the night before the violent riot, you sent and received a stream of texts. You wrote: “Im very worried about the next 48 hours.” With the counting of electoral votes scheduled for January 6th at 1 p.m., why were you concerned about the next 48 hours?

Also, on the evening of January 5th, you texted Mr. Meadows: “Pence pressure. WH counsel will leave.” Wha communications or information led you to conclude that White House Counsel would leave? What precisely did you know at that time?

The Committee is letting Hannity AND Trump know that they’ve blasted all executive privilege b.s. and Hannity will eventually have to talk, either to the committee (if he can run out the clock, doubtful) or the DOJ.

Sean has some thinking to do and there will be no easy way out of this one.

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