The right-wing fringe hoped that Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s effort to hack the election would be dealt a crippling–and possibly fatal–blow with the release of a memo drafted by House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes. Supposedly, the memo would have offered proof that the investigation was shot through with abuses of power by the FBI and Justice Department.
But a competent reading of this memo shows that it is far, far less than advertised. That’s not all that surprising, since the FBI warned us that the memo offered an inaccurate and incomplete picture of the process by which the FBI conducted surveillance on former Donald Trump campaign aide Carter Paige.
One of the memo’s main targets was former FBI Director James Comey. When he saw the memo, he was, to put it mildly, unimpressed.
That’s it? Dishonest and misleading memo wrecked the House intel committee, destroyed trust with Intelligence Community, damaged relationship with FISA court, and inexcusably exposed classified investigation of an American citizen. For what? DOJ & FBI must keep doing their jobs.
— James Comey (@Comey) February 2, 2018
Apparently that sentiment didn’t sit too well with Sean Hannity. The run-up to the memo burnished Hannity’s reputation as Trump’s loudest cheerleader on Fox News. Indeed, according to The Daily Beast, he called Trump several times in the past week to discuss the memo and urge its release.
In the hours after the memo was released, Hannity joined most of the right-wing echo chamber in taking a victory lap–even as the reality-based world quickly realized this memo was a nothing burger.
Boom !!! https://t.co/kZme3aXfGH
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) February 2, 2018
An unprecedented Government abuse of power and corruption case. Those involved used HRC bought and paid for Russian lies as the basis to obtain a FISA warrant vs an opposition party candidate and Potus elect. And worse, they knew it was full of lies, and not verified.
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) February 2, 2018
So it should surprise no one that Hannity was not at all pleased when Comey panned the memo from his perspective as a career federal prosecutor. But how Hannity reacted sent should send a chill down any fair-minded American’s spine.
Jim, You have the right to remain silent. I suggest you exercise that right…. https://t.co/Pe7YGLDDue
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) February 2, 2018
I hope I’m reading this wrong. I really am. Hannity was either just telling Comey he had no right to speak up, or he was trying to read Comey his rights in a comical attempt to make a citizen’s arrest.
But based on what happened on Thursday’s edition of “Hannity,” it sounds like the latter. Watch here.
Earlier in the day, Comey loudly supported the FBI’s objection to the memo.
All should appreciate the FBI speaking up. I wish more of our leaders would. But take heart: American history shows that, in the long run, weasels and liars never hold the field, so long as good people stand up. Not a lot of schools or streets named for Joe McCarthy.
— James Comey (@Comey) February 1, 2018
Hannity hit the ceiling seven minutes into his opening monologue. He harrumphed that we didn’t need to hear “lectures” from Comey–and then went off the deep end.
“And by the way, Jim, just a reminder. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you.”
So this marks the second time in 24 hours that Hannity has tried to read Comey his rights. All because Comey dared to speak up, and put country over party. Lovely.
Then again, a number of other pro-Trump pundits have been openly calling for the First Amendment to be shredded. Hannity’s just joining in on the party.
(featured image courtesy Gage Skidmore, available under a Creative Commons BY-SA license)