Capitol Riots Update: Donald Trump Cancels Speech, Committee Wants Sean Hannity To Testify About Texts

Ahead of the anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot, the House subcommittee investigating the events reportedly has evidence Fox News’ host Sean Hannity had “advance knowledge” of Donald Trump’s plans when a mob of demonstrators swarmed the Capitol as Congress certified Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.

Meanwhile, Trump was slated to give an address on Jan. 6 to commemorate the anniversary of the attempted insurrection but has instead canceled the speech.

The Select Committee investigating the events surrounding the Jan. 6 riot, made it clear in a letter to Hannity and his lawyers that they are not seeking to address comments he made on any of his broadcasts with Fox News, as they respect freedom of the press and the First Amendment. Instead, the subcommittee wants Hannity to provide his knowledge of the events willingly, which could prove challenging for the committee.

Trump’s allies tend to not want to talk to the committee about anything related to Jan. 6.

Committee Chairperson Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Vice-Chairperson Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., sent the letter to Hannity.

In the letter, the committee noted to Hannity that “it also appears that you were expressing concerns and advising the President and certain White House staff regarding that planning. You also had relevant communications while the riot was underway, and in the days thereafter. These communications make you a fact witness in our investigation.”

On the evening of Jan. 5, 2021, Hannity sent a text that read “Im very worried about the next 48 hours.” Aside from the certification of the 2020 presidential election, the committee asked Hannity “why were you concerned about the next 48 hours?” The committee also added that Hannity may have had a private conversation with Trump on that evening.

This means that the committee has evidence from Hannity’s messages to senior members of White House staff, some of which have already been made public, revealing that he may have had some insight into the events that would unfold.

It is possible that other Fox News hosts who corresponded with senior White House staff at the time, or Trump himself, will be asked to testify or hand over information. Many members of Trump's inner circle, including Mark Meadows and Steve Bannon, have already refused to testify or are being held in contempt.

It remains unclear how much planning went into Jan. 6, as well as the roles played by Trump, his allies in the media, the House, the Senate, and other lawmakers and political leaders. There is evidence that some of the mob that stormed the Capitol had a plan and may have corresponded with key individuals.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris plan to speak Thursday about the Jan. 6 riots.

In canceling his speech, Trump blamed the House subcommittee investigating the insurrection and the media for painting what he views as a dishonest account of what happened that day.

Politico reported that many Republican politicians thought the appearance would be inappropriate. Trump will instead hold a rally on Jan. 15 in Arizona.

While Trump is still popular with many Republican voters, with some polls showing him ahead of Biden in a theoretical presidential showdown in 2024, there is still a rift in the GOP about how to address Jan. 6.