CNN Exclusive: New text messages reveal Fox’s Hannity advising Trump White House and seeking direction

On the afternoon of Election Day, Hannity texted Meadows at 1:36 p.m. to ask about turnout in North Carolina. Two hours later, Meadows responded: “Stress each vote issues. Get out and vote. On radio.”

“Sure sir,” Hannity replied. “On it. Anyplace specifically we’d like a push.”

“Pennsylvania. NC AZ,” Meadows wrote, including: “Nevada.”

“Obtained it. All over the place,” Hannity mentioned.

The texts additionally present the 2 males debating Trump’s technique to problem the election, complaining about Fox, and plotting about what to do after Trump left workplace — together with probably working collectively.

“You additionally must spend at the very least half your time doing enterprise with us,” Hannity texted Meadows on December 12. “And I am critical. Did u ever discuss to Fox. I have been at battle with them.”

“I agree. We will make a strong group,” Meadows responded. “I didn’t discuss with (Fox Information CEO) Suzanne (Scott) as a result of I acquired tied up with pardons however I’ll be certain that I join. You’re a true patriot and I’m so very pleased with you! Your friendship means a terrific deal to me.”

“Feeling is mutual,” Hannity wrote again.

Hannity didn’t reply to requests for remark from CNN; neither did Meadows or his lawyer. A spokesman for the January 6 committee declined to remark.

Feeding the fraud conspiracies

Meadows responded, “You are precisely proper. Engaged on breakthrough.”

“Okay. Can be phenomenal,” Hannity texted again.

Hannity checked in with Meadows on December 22, asking him how he was doing.

“Preventing like loopy. Went to Cobb county to evaluate course of. Very powerful days however I’ll maintain combating,” Meadows mentioned, referring to the Trump group’s objections to votes from Cobb County, Georgia.

Whereas Hannity by no means appeared to dispute Trump’s false claims in regards to the election itself, he expressed alarm on the techniques of a few of these pushing Trump’s case. Hannity responded to Meadows, “You combating is ok. The fing lunatics is NOT effective. They’re NOT serving to him. I am fed up with these folks.”

By New 12 months’s Eve, Hannity warned in regards to the fallout if prime White Home legal professionals resigned in protest. Hannity additionally appeared to just accept the truth that the election was over and the President’s greatest plan of action was to go to Florida and interact Biden from there.

“We will not lose your entire WH counsels workplace. I do NOT see January 6 occurring the best way he’s being advised,” Hannity mentioned. “After the 6 th. He ought to announce will lead the nationwide effort to reform voting integrity. Go to Fl and watch Joe mess up every day. Keep engaged. When he speaks folks will pay attention.”

Prepping for a Trump interview

After the letter was despatched, Hannity’s lawyer, Jay Sekulow, advised CNN, “We’re reviewing the committee’s letter and can reply as applicable.”

Whereas Hannity was fiercely loyal to Trump on-air, his off-air relationship was extra sophisticated. He generally complained about Trump’s conduct and fretted that the President was hurting the Republican Social gathering writ massive.

A spokesperson for Fox didn’t reply to a request for remark.

“Hello the general public needs to know he’ll battle this. They need to hear a path to victory. & he is in management,” Bartiromo texted at 9:21 a.m. “1Q You’ve got mentioned MANY TIMES THIS ELECTION IS RIGGED… And the info are in your aspect. Let’s begin there. What are the info? Characterize what befell right here. Then I’ll drill down on the fraud together with the statistical impossibilities of Biden magic (federalist). Pls be certain that he would not go off on tangents. We need to know he’s sturdy he’s a fighter & he’ll win. That is now not about him. That is about ????. I’ll ask him about massive tech & media influencing ejection as properly Towards finish I am going to get to GA runoffs & then vaccines.”

At 10:12 a.m., Trump known as into Bartiromo’s present, “Sunday Morning Futures.” Her line of questions mirrored a lot of what she specified by the textual content message.

The committee beforehand launched texts from each Kilmeade and Ingraham expressing alarm over the assaults on the Capitol and its impact on Trump’s legacy. Tucker Carlson seems in just one trade within the Meadows textual content logs, when he was attempting to talk to Meadows whereas prepping for his present on November 17.

“Sorry I missed you. I used to be writing the present. Figured it out I feel, however I recognize it,” Carlson wrote.

The logs additionally present there have been dozens of journalists from different organizations who texted with Meadows throughout this time interval. In distinction to Hannity’s messages, these reporters had been regularly in search of the White Home chief of workers’s affirmation of breaking information or attempting to safe an interview with Trump.

Meadows obtained texts from reporters with the New York Instances, Washington Publish, Wall Avenue Journal, Related Press, Politico, Bloomberg, NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN, amongst others.

‘I am starting to really feel down’

Because the returns had been coming in on Election Night time, Hannity pinged Meadows to share a tweet about early vote totals out of North Carolina, a state that was essential to Trump’s reelection hopes. “Will we maintain??” Hannity requested Meadows.

“We’re nonetheless good,” Meadows wrote again.

Every week later, Hannity checked in once more to see how Meadows was “holding up.”

“I’m doing properly. Working across the clock. We’re going to battle and win,” Meadows mentioned.

“You actually assume it is doable,” Hannity responded. “I am starting to really feel down. To (sic) a lot disorganization. We want Jim to entrance the messaging. Somebody that is credible.”

“Arizona now down simply 12813. Nonetheless ballots to depend,” Meadows wrote again. “Very disorganized however I’ve been busting heads yesterday and immediately. Let NOT your coronary heart worry my pal.”

Hannity and Meadows’ texts underscore the insular results of the right-wing media echo chamber, the place little if any correct details about the election outcomes was capable of break via.

In November and early December, Hannity’s present typically amplified Trump’s election lies. Company together with then-White Home press secretary Kayleigh McEnany made near-nightly appearances to sow doubt in regards to the election outcomes and stoke assist for doomed authorized challenges. “We are going to observe the info,” Hannity claimed on his December 2 program, sooner or later after Trump’s lawyer basic, William Barr, declared there was no proof of widespread election fraud.

However in his texts with Meadows, Hannity sounded resigned to the truth that the election was over.

“Texas case could be very sturdy. Nonetheless a Herculean climb. Everybody is aware of it was stolen. Everybody,” Hannity wrote on December 8. “I vacillate between mad as hell and unhappy as hell. Wtf occurred to our nation Mark.”

Meadows responded, “So upset to see what we allowed to occur.”

“Truthfully we predict alike. That is one other dialogue,” Hannity wrote again.

‘I have been at battle with all of them week’

The textual content messages additionally make clear Hannity’s tensions with Fox. The Trump-aligned channel infuriated the previous President by calling Arizona for Biden on Election Night time.

“Doing this to try to get scores won’t work in the long term and I’m uncertain it’s even a brief time period successful technique,” Meadows wrote.

Hannity responded with a jab at Fox and a suggestion about what Meadows ought to do after leaving the White Home: “I have been at battle with all of them week. We are going to discuss wen I see u,” Hannity wrote. “Additionally if this does not finish the best way we wish, you me and Jay are doing 3 issues collectively. 1- Directing authorized methods vs Biden 2- NC Actual property 3- Different enterprise I talked to Rudy. Thx for serving to him.”

Hannity expressed his frustrations once more a number of days later, telling Meadows that he had made a marketing campaign advert.

“I used to be screaming about no adverts from Labor Day on,” Hannity wrote on December 8. “I made my very own they by no means ran it. I am not pointing fingers. I am pissed off.”

On December 11, Meadows requested Hannity to ship him the cellphone variety of Suzanne Scott, the Fox Information CEO. “I can name via switchboard however that makes it an even bigger deal,” Meadows mentioned.

The subsequent day, as Hannity pitched Meadows about working for Fox, he additionally provided an insightful window into how he views Trump. Hannity texted, “I actually really feel sorry for our pal. He is by no means had a days peace. On the opposite aspect of this, he is uncovered a really darkish aspect of the swamp that is far worse than I ever imagined and I’m not significantly optimistic for the longer term.”

‘The seats are slipping away’

By mid-December, each Hannity and Meadows had been involved in regards to the two Senate run-offs in Georgia that will resolve management of the chamber in 2021. By that time, Trump had began his harsh assaults on Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp for certifying the state’s election for Biden.

Hannity and Meadows additionally started planning for after the Trump administration, discussing how Trump might vogue a comeback bid and the way Meadows might work towards the Biden administration.

“These 2 senate seats are slipping away. Kemp is a complete fool,” Hannity wrote on December 12.

Hannity argued that Trump ought to make the Senate race about him.

“He has to make this about him. I am going to make a cope with you, When you (elect) 2 R’s to the senate, I am going to run once more in 2024,” Hannity wrote of Trump. “Make it about him. 2 of the worst candidates I’ve ever seen.”

“The seats are slipping away,” Meadows responded. “I agree that he has to provide some hope for the longer term. Join the longer term to those candidates.”

Meadows continued, “Moreover. I feel we arrange a gaggle of administrative legal professionals, with a communication arm that fights election legal guidelines in each state and battle Biden actions daily, beginning on Jan 20. ACLU filed over 400 lawsuits towards Trump administration. We have to do the identical. I feel I can increase round 10 million {dollars} to rent a group to verify the battle continues and prepares the best way for 2024.”

‘He cannot point out the election once more. Ever.’

As January 6 approached, Hannity expressed his concern about what would transpire. He texted Meadows on January 5, “Im very nervous in regards to the subsequent 48 hours. Pence strain. WH counsel will go away.”

On January 6, after the Capitol was breached by pro-Trump rioters, Hannity was certainly one of a variety of folks texting Meadows urging Trump to intervene. “Can he make an announcement. I noticed the tweet. Ask folks to peacefully go away the capital,” Hannity texted Meadows at 3:31 p.m.

“On it,” Meadows responded.

Later that night, after Trump had despatched one other tweet attacking Vice President Mike Pence, Hannity expressed extra alarm to Meadows, “Wth (What the hell) is occurring with VPOTUS.”

Within the January 6 aftermath, Hannity sounded a glum word to Meadows as many Republicans seemed to solid Trump out of the occasion. Senate GOP Chief Mitch McConnell gave a flooring speech on January 19 saying the mob was “provoked” by Trump, prompting Hannity to share the video with Meadows. “Nicely that is as dangerous as this may get,” Hannity texted.

Hannity spoke to Trump a number of days after January 6. The decision didn’t go properly, Hannity wrote in a gaggle textual content to Meadows and GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. Hannity mentioned he wished Trump by no means to talk about the 2020 election once more, however that Trump was unwilling, and Hannity appeared at a loss for what to do subsequent.

“Guys, we now have a transparent path to land the airplane in 9 days. He cannot point out the election once more. Ever,” Hannity wrote. “I didn’t have a great name with him immediately. And worse, I am unsure what’s left to do or say, and I do not like not understanding if it is actually understood. Concepts?”

Neither Meadows nor Jordan appeared to reply.