Kayleigh McEnany, former President Donald Trump’s last White House Press Secretary, handed over a trove of text messages to the House committee investigating the Capitol attack, according to ABC News.
The messages include a remarkable exchange between McEnany and Fox News’ Sean Hannity, which underscores the Trump administration’s unusually close relationship with the conservative outlet.
Following the Capitol riot, Hannity texted McEnany: “1 – no more stolen election talk. 2- Yes, impeachment and the 25th amendment are real and many people will quit.”
“Love that. Thank you. That is the playbook. I will help reinforce….,” McEnany replied.
“Key now. No more crazy people,” Hannity added.
“Yes 100%,” McEnany said.
The McEnany-Hannity texts first came to light last month in a letter the January 6th committee sent to Ivanka Trump.
ABC News reports:
McEnany appeared virtually before investigators for several hours on Jan. 13, according to a source familiar with her testimony, and did not appear that day on her midday Fox News program.
The committee was interested in her repeated false claims of widespread voter fraud from the White House Briefing Room podium, and in her interactions with Trump on Jan. 6, according to a letter the committee sent to McEnany along with the subpoena.
The Guardian provides background on Hannity’s relationship with the Trump administration.
Hannity has also long been close to Trump, as an informal adviser and sometime rally guest. Though he has been revealed to have been shaken by the attack on the Capitol, he has spent the year since the riot supporting Trump’s version of events.
The House committee investigating January 6 has asked for Hannity’s cooperation, a request a lawyer for the host said raises “first amendment concerns regarding freedom of the press”.
Hannity has previously said he does not claim to be a journalist.