Fox News host Sean Hannity may have inadvertently given the House of Representatives a reason to subpoena him after he claimed on Thursday that Michael Cohen disclosed information to him about hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.
While interviewing President Donald Trump Thursday night, Hannity said Cohen told him that he made the payments to Daniels on his own volition.
“I can tell you personally, [Cohen] said to me at least a dozen times, that he made the decision on the payments and he didn’t tell you,” Hannity told Trump. “He told me, personally.”
To which Trump concurred: "Yeah, he did."
Watch below:
Hannity admits he's talked to Cohen about hush payments https://t.co/4rw8L7kAKi— TPM Livewire (@TPM Livewire) 1551443914.0
The problem with this, as CNN's Don Lemon pointed out, is that Cohen kept recordings of himself explaining to Trump how he would go about setting up the payoff.
Hannity says Michael Cohen didn't tell President Trump about illegal hush payments. Trump agrees. The audio recor… https://t.co/d2h6aiKLvk— Josh Campbell (@Josh Campbell) 1551413985.0
Cohen, Trump's former fixer, told the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday that Trump knew of the payments to Daniels in the fall of 2016 and that Trump personally reimbursed him the following summer. Cohen even brought a copy of a check for $35,000 signed by Trump.
@joshscampbell THERE’S A CHECK SIGNED BY TRUMP! HE KNEW! #conspiracy https://t.co/lk9Ve1Ob8t— Derly Uribe (@Derly Uribe) 1551449111.0
Cohen and Hannity are long-time buddies, after all. Last August, Hannity was revealed to be one of Cohen's clients. Hannity has denied the relationship.
Hannity's perjury accusation prompted Democratic Congressman David Cicilline (RI) to tweet Thursday night that "Sean Hannity is now volunteering himself as a witness. I look forward to his testimony."
Sean Hannity is now volunteering himself as a witness. I look forward to his testimony. https://t.co/eOjhlkg4mU— David Cicilline (@David Cicilline) 1551409550.0
Oops.
But legal experts who witnessed the exchange between Hannity and Trump agree that a subpoena would be the most appropriate course of action.
Next subpoena is for Hannity. https://t.co/GuOAGLWZrX— Joyce Alene (@Joyce Alene) 1551411953.0
Cohen is a cooperating witness in the Southern District of New York's investigation into the president, his businesses, his charity, and his alleged involvement in campaign finance violations. Cohen, who will begin a three-year prison sentence in May, named Trump - "Individual-1" - as a co-conspirator.
Right, and then Trump paid Cohen back anyway because he’s such a nice guy. SDNY should subpoena Hannity. No Attorne… https://t.co/Pg9Ifu1O11— Mimi Rocah (@Mimi Rocah) 1551407758.0
Hannity just made himself a witness in a congressional inquiry and the SDNY probe https://t.co/pdSnvztayR— Bradley P. Moss (@Bradley P. Moss) 1551408473.0
@rebeccaballhaus Sounds like Sean Hannity might be in line to give some Congressional testimony soon...— Katie Phang (@Katie Phang) 1551407880.0
@rebeccaballhaus Wow. @seanhannity just made himself a witness. @RepCummings @RepAdamSchiff @RepMaxineWaters @RepSpeier @SpeakerPelosi— Susan Solomon (@Susan Solomon) 1551409063.0
@rebeccaballhaus House needs to subpoena Sean Hannity and see if he sticks to that under oath. @AdamSchiff @RepCummings @AOC— Sandy (@Sandy) 1551408909.0
@Sandlynn2 @rebeccaballhaus @AdamSchiff @RepCummings @AOC Also, based on what he said, @seanhannity knew a federal… https://t.co/eKySbUH2SX— Rachel Quenzer (@Rachel Quenzer) 1551409682.0
Twitter went wild.
The incompetence is astounding.
@joshscampbell LMAO.... This is a skit..— K'Don De Zoori🌎☕🎌 (@K'Don De Zoori🌎☕🎌) 1551414474.0
@joshscampbell It's amazing that these bumbling fools can't even manage to conspire with their co-conspirators properly.— Polly Sigh (@Polly Sigh) 1551414217.0
@joshscampbell These guys are out of control. There are tapes and check receipts 🤦♀️— Angela Ryan (@Angela Ryan) 1551414302.0
@rebeccaballhaus He didn’t listen to Cohen’s warning at all about Donald, did he? Did he catch the part during the… https://t.co/NpHKKvSprN— OfLellie 🎄Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins🎄 (@OfLellie 🎄Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins🎄) 1551419192.0
How is this even real?
@rebeccaballhaus I'm also lolling at the COHEN LIED ABOUT EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE PART WHERE HE SAID NO COLLUSION, TH… https://t.co/5bmH0o4XiK— CSPAM2 (@CSPAM2) 1551424415.0
@rebeccaballhaus This really is #StupidWatergate. Hannity should know Mueller would've had corroborating witnesses… https://t.co/TNqL43JFBS— Parker_Rush #Resist (@Parker_Rush #Resist) 1551408263.0
@joshscampbell I guess he forgot that Cohen has him on tape— My Info (@My Info) 1551415212.0
@joshscampbell It’s just a shit show now. They can’t keep track of all their lies. And the $35000 check . House of cards is crumbling.— RobinR. (@RobinR.) 1551414266.0
@joshscampbell Day in and day out the so called leader of the free world continues to embarrass himself and our country.— Tony P. (@Tony P.) 1551459488.0
@joshscampbell He can’t even keep up with his own lies anymore— Ali (@Ali) 1551457581.0
But her emails.