Does Hannity Actually Think That There Are Conspiracies?

Sean Hannity, a prominent Fox News host, has been accused of making false claims about widespread fraud committed by voting machine suppliers in the 2020 election. The network questioned the election results and pushed conspiracy theories during the two-week period after declaring Joe Biden the president-elect. Hannity admitted under oath that he never believed the lie that President Barack Obama needed to release his birth, but the profile depicted him promoting at least three conspiracy theories: the Seth Rich conspiracy theory, Vince Foster’s defense of Moore’s defense, and the “Obama-Clinton Machine’s liberal media lapdogs”.

A $1.6bn defamation lawsuit against Fox News has revealed the inner workings of the conservative cable network. Hannity admitted that he did not believe “for one second” the election fraud claims that guests on his show were advancing in 2020. Hannity has transformed from a typical right-wing pundit into Fox News’ leading conspiracy theorist, making the network’s reputation more vulnerable.

PolitiFact, a fact-checking website, rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others on its Truth-O-Meter. Hannity has also admitted to elevating false claims he didn’t believe after the 2020 election. The allegations highlight the ongoing debate surrounding the legitimacy of the U.S. election and the potential for Hannity to continue promoting false narratives.