Major Controversies Surrounding Sean Hannity: A Detailed Timeline
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Sean Hannity.
Sean Hannity is a prominent American conservative television and radio host, and author. He is best known for hosting "The Sean Hannity Show," a nationally syndicated radio program, and for his long-running political commentary show on Fox News, which began in 2009. He also co-hosted "Hannity & Colmes" with Alan Colmes from 1996 to 2009, since the beginning of Fox News, which showcased political debates. Hannity is a well-known figure in conservative media.
1989: Hannity makes anti-gay comments on KCSB radio show
In 1989, Sean Hannity made anti-gay comments on his radio show for KCSB, calling AIDS a "gay disease" and promoting anti-gay activist Gene Antonio. He made derogatory remarks about homosexuals and their behavior, leading to controversy and calls for his dismissal.
2001: Hannity describes climate change as "phony science from the left"
In 2001, Sean Hannity described climate change as "phony science from the left", indicating his rejection of the scientific consensus on the issue.
2004: Hannity falsely claims scientists disagree about global warming
In 2004, Sean Hannity falsely claimed that scientists couldn't agree on whether global warming was "scientific fact or fiction", despite widespread scientific consensus on the matter.
2006: Hannity criticizes Keith Ellison's Quran oath
In 2006, Sean Hannity criticized Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress, for being sworn into office with an oath on a Quran. Hannity compared the Quran to Mein Kampf.
2007: Characterized as a Political Polarizer
In their 2007 book, Common Ground, Cal Thomas and Bob Beckel described Sean Hannity as a leader among broadcasting political polarizers.
2008: Hannity Calls on Obama to Release Birth Certificate
Even after Obama produced his birth certificate in 2008, certified by the state of Hawaii, Hannity kept calling on Obama to release his birth certificate, asking why he did not just produce it.
2009: Hannity supports enhanced interrogation and volunteers for waterboarding
In 2009, Sean Hannity voiced his support for enhanced interrogation techniques, which are a euphemism for torture. He also volunteered to be waterboarded for charity, prompting Keith Olbermann to pledge a donation for every second of the procedure.
2010: Hannity Criticizes Assange
In 2010, Sean Hannity criticized Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, saying he was waging a "war" on the U.S. and putting American lives in jeopardy.
2010: Hannity falsely claims "Climategate" exposed global warming as a myth
In 2010, Sean Hannity falsely stated that the "Climategate" scandal, involving leaked emails from climate scientists, "exposed global warming as a myth cooked up by alarmists", despite subsequent inquiries finding no evidence of misconduct or wrongdoing.
2010: Charity Complaints
In 2010, complaints were filed with the FTC and IRS regarding the percentage of money raised by Sean Hannity's "Freedom Concerts" that went to charity.
2012: Romney's failure to obtain votes in Philadelphia
In 2012, Mitt Romney failed to obtain any votes in 59 of 1,687 Philadelphia voting districts, later cited by Sean Hannity as proof of election rigging.
2012: Benghazi Attack
Sean Hannity was a major proponent of alleged scandals involving the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton related to the 2012 Benghazi attack.
2014: Major Proponent of Alleged Benghazi Scandals
In 2014, analysis found that Sean Hannity was a major proponent of alleged scandals involving the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton related to the 2012 Benghazi attack.
2015: Fox News begins extensive coverage of Uranium One scandal
From 2015 into 2018, Fox News extensively covered the Uranium One scandal, with particular emphasis by Sean Hannity.
April 2016: Contentious Interview with Cruz
In April 2016, tensions between Ted Cruz and Sean Hannity reached a boiling point during a contentious radio interview.
August 2016: Role as Trump Adviser
In August 2016, Jim Rutenberg commented that Sean Hannity is "not only Mr. Trump's biggest media booster; he also veers into the role of adviser,", fueling controversies.
September 2016: Hannity Interviews and Praises Assange
In September 2016, Sean Hannity interviewed Julian Assange and praised him for revealing government corruption. He told Assange, "I do hope you get free one day. I wish you the best."
October 2016: Hannity Offers Obama a One-Way Ticket to Kenya
In October 2016, Sean Hannity offered to purchase a one-way ticket to Kenya for Barack Obama, related to queries about Obama's citizenship.
2016: Study finds Hannity promoted falsehoods about the Affordable Care Act
A 2016 study revealed that Sean Hannity promoted a number of falsehoods regarding the Affordable Care Act. He aggressively supported Republicans and attacked Democrats, often endorsing spurious claims and prioritizing advocacy over accurate reporting.
2016: Hannity describes Mueller investigation as "one giant incestuous circle of corruption"
In 2016, Sean Hannity described the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election as "one giant incestuous circle of corruption." He also attacked James Comey's tenure as FBI Director.
2016: Hannity falsely claims fewer people voted for Trump
In 2016, Sean Hannity falsely claimed fewer people voted for Trump in the 2016 election because they heard about the "pee tape" rumor.
2016: Hannity defends Roger Ailes
In 2016, Sean Hannity vociferously defended Roger Ailes when Ailes was accused by multiple women of sexual harassment.
2016: Criticized for Trump Support
In 2016, Sean Hannity was criticized for being overly favorable to Donald Trump's candidacy and granting him more airtime than other presidential candidates.
2016: Promotion of Conspiracy Theories About Clinton
In 2016, during the presidential election, Sean Hannity promoted conspiracy theories regarding Hillary Clinton's health. He misrepresented photos and falsely claimed she had medical problems.
2016: False Claims About Election Rigging
In 2016, during the presidential election, Sean Hannity was criticized for making false claims about election rigging. He cited Mitt Romney's performance in Philadelphia voting districts as proof, which was later debunked.
February 2017: Hannity Retweets Conspiracy Website
In February 2017, Sean Hannity retweeted a WikiLeaks tweet linking to a conspiracy website article about John McCain, later deleting it after criticism.
March 2017: Calls for "Purge" of Obama-Era Appointees
In March 2017, Sean Hannity called for a "purge" of Obama-era bureaucrats and appointees in government, as part of his advocacy for the "deep state" conspiracy theory.
March 2017: Hannity Publicizes CIA Theory
In March 2017, Sean Hannity publicized a theory that the CIA could have hacked the DNC while making it look like Russia did it.
April 2017: Hannity defends Bill Shine
In April 2017, Sean Hannity defended Fox News co-president Bill Shine after reports that Shine's job was at risk. Shine had been accused in lawsuits of ignoring, enabling, or concealing Roger Ailes' alleged sexual harassment.
May 2017: Promotion of Seth Rich Conspiracy Theory
In May 2017, Sean Hannity heavily promoted a conspiracy theory about the death of DNC staffer Seth Rich, leading to backlash and advertisers pulling out of his show.
May 2017: Offer to Assange to Guest Host
In May 2017, Sean Hannity offered Julian Assange the opportunity to guest host his Fox News TV show.
May 2017: Reiterates Deep State Conspiracy
In May 2017, Sean Hannity reiterated that deep state/intelligence operatives were trying to destroy the Trump presidency.
May 17, 2017: Mueller's appointment
From May 17, 2017, Sean Hannity was repeatedly critical of the FBI, DOJ, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and others investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election.
October 2017: Hannity criticized for defending O'Reilly after Weinstein accusations
In October 2017, Sean Hannity faced criticism for attacking Democrats after the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment allegations became public. This occurred shortly after Hannity defended Bill O'Reilly, who had been fired from Fox News following similar allegations.
November 2017: Fox News host Shepard Smith debunked Uranium One scandal, infuriating viewers
In November 2017, Fox News host Shepard Smith debunked the Uranium One scandal, stating that Hillary Clinton did not personally approve the sale, leading to backlash from viewers. Sean Hannity later called Smith "clueless".
2017: Cohen provided legal services to Hannity
In 2017, Michael Cohen provided "traditional legal tasks" for Sean Hannity.
2017: Hannity continues to advocate for waterboarding
In 2017, Sean Hannity continued to advocate for the use of waterboarding, using the example of its potential application against a kidnapper.
January 2018: Hannity suggests Hillary Clinton should be in jail
In January 2018, Sean Hannity said he thought Hillary Clinton should be in jail.
March 2018: Hannity attacks Special Counsel Robert Mueller
In March 2018, Sean Hannity criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller, questioning his impartiality and suggesting that his career was "anything but impeccable". Hannity claimed that Mueller's friendships with James Comey and Rod Rosenstein created conflicts of interest in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
March 2018: Seth Rich's Parents Sue Fox News
In March 2018, Seth Rich's parents filed a lawsuit against Fox News for pushing conspiracy theories about their son's death, alleging intentional exploitation of the tragedy for political purposes.
April 9, 2018: Hannity defends Michael Cohen after raid
On April 9, 2018, after federal agents raided Michael Cohen's office and residence, Sean Hannity defended Cohen on air and criticized the federal action, calling it an "unprecedented abuse of power."
April 2018: Property Ownership
As of April 2018, Sean Hannity owned at least 877 residential properties, bought for nearly $89 million, raising ethical and management questions.
April 2018: Hannity claims criminal connections between Clintons, Mueller, and Comey
In April 2018, Sean Hannity claimed on his show that there were "criminal" connections between Bill and Hillary Clinton, Robert Mueller, and James Comey. Hannity alleged that these individuals were part of connected "Deep State crime families" actively trying to undermine President Trump.
April 2018: Controversy over Shared Lawyer
In April 2018, Sean Hannity faced controversy after it was revealed that he shared a lawyer, Michael Cohen, with Donald Trump. This raised ethical concerns as Hannity did not disclose this relationship while defending Cohen on Fox News.
April 16, 2018: Hannity Revealed as Cohen Client
On April 16, 2018, in a court hearing, it was revealed that Sean Hannity was one of Michael Cohen's clients. This was after Cohen's lawyers were compelled to name him against his wishes due to fears of embarrassment.
May 16, 2018: Hannity's show episodes devoted to Mueller
From Mueller's appointment (May 17, 2017) to May 16, 2018, Sean Hannity had 487 segments substantially devoted to Mueller.
June 2018: Hannity suggests witnesses destroy phones
In June 2018, Sean Hannity sarcastically suggested that witnesses in Mueller's probe should "follow Hillary Clinton's lead" and destroy their personal phones to avoid examination. This occurred after reports indicated that Mueller's probe had asked witnesses to turn over their personal phones to investigators.
August 2018: Trump claims Hannity agrees with government shutdown over border wall funding
In August 2018, Donald Trump suggested he might shut down the government to force Congress to fund his border wall, claiming that Sean Hannity agreed with the action.
2018: Fox News continues extensive coverage of Uranium One scandal
From 2015 into 2018, Fox News extensively covered the Uranium One scandal, with particular emphasis by Sean Hannity.
May 2019: Hannity criticizes Mueller's statement
In May 2019, after Robert Mueller stated that his investigation did not exonerate Donald Trump, Sean Hannity responded by saying that Mueller was "basically full of crap" and did not know the law.
June 2019: Hannity Outraged by Pelosi's Comment
In June 2019, Sean Hannity criticized Nancy Pelosi's comment about wanting to see Trump in prison. He said it was despicable behavior, which was criticized as hypocrisy.
June 2019: Hannity calls on Trump to "bomb the hell out of Iran"
In June 2019, Sean Hannity urged Donald Trump to "bomb the hell out of Iran" after Iran shot down a U.S. drone.
2019: Conspiracy Theories
In 2019, The New Yorker wrote that Sean Hannity had "[spewed] baseless conspiracy theories with impunity", citing his controversial style.
February 2020: Hannity accuses the left of rooting for COVID-19 to wreak havoc in the U.S.
In February 2020, as COVID-19 began to spread to the United States, Sean Hannity claimed that "many on the left are now all rooting for corona to wreak havoc in the United States" for political gain.
March 2020: Hannity characterizes COVID-19 as a "hoax"
In March 2020, Sean Hannity characterized the COVID-19 virus as a "hoax" and suggested it might be a "fraud" perpetrated by the "deep state".
October 12, 2020: Fox News Settles Seth Rich Lawsuit
On October 12, 2020, Fox News agreed to pay millions of dollars to the Rich family in a settlement, resolving a lawsuit related to the network's conspiracy theories about Seth Rich's death.
December 2020: Hannity Calls for Special Prosecutor
In December 2020, Sean Hannity called for a special prosecutor to investigate Trump's claims of voter fraud, despite a lack of credible evidence.
2020: Election Fraud Claims
In 2020, Sean Hannity made false claims of election fraud in the presidential election, contributing to controversies.
2020: Sidney Powell appears on Hannity's show
In 2020, Shortly after the election, Sean Hannity hosted Trump attorney Sidney Powell, who made assertions that the company's voting machines had been rigged against Donald Trump.
2020: Hannity Offers Advice to Meadows
In 2020, after Donald Trump lost the election, Sean Hannity sent text messages to Mark Meadows, including one seemingly suggesting a joint real estate venture.
December 31, 2020: Hannity's Text to Meadows
On December 31, 2020, Sean Hannity texted Mark Meadows saying he did "NOT see January 6 happening the way he [Trump] is being told."
2021: Fox News Sued by Dominion
In 2021, Fox News was sued for defamation by Dominion Voting Systems, due to claims promoted by Sean Hannity and others that the company's voting machines were rigged against Donald Trump.
May 2022: Hannity participated in a conference call
In May 2022, Sean Hannity participated in a conference call days after the 2020 presidential election that focused on strategies for challenging the legitimacy of the vote.
January 2023: Comer Investigates the Bidens
In January 2023, Comer began investigating the Bidens, but did not initially find evidence of wrongdoing by the president.
October 2023: Staffer solicits support for Jordan as House Speaker
In October 2023, a staffer on Sean Hannity's show emailed Republican lawmakers to ask why they weren't supporting Representative Jim Jordan, Donald Trump's choice for House Speaker.
December 2023: House Initiates Impeachment Inquiry
In December 2023, despite the lack of evidence found by Comer, House Republicans voted unanimously to initiate an impeachment inquiry against President Biden.
2023: Hannity promotes allegations against Joe and Hunter Biden
Throughout 2023, Sean Hannity heavily promoted allegations that President Joe Biden acted corruptly through his son Hunter Biden's business affairs, characterizing them as the "Biden crime family". He ran numerous segments alleging bribery and corruption, particularly concerning Ukraine.
February 2024: FBI Informant Indicted
In February 2024, the FBI informant who made bribery allegations against Biden was indicted on charges of fabricating the story; this informant was allegedly associated with Russian intelligence.
March 2024: Impeachment Inquiry Winding Down
By March 2024, due to a lack of evidence and limited Republican support, the impeachment inquiry against President Biden was winding down.
April 2024: Hannity Avoids Biden Inquiry
By April 2024, it was reported that Hannity had not mentioned the Biden inquiry on his program or hosted Comer for a month, following the indictment of the FBI informant.
