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Rather Than Questioning Sean Hannity for Breach of Ethics Fox News Is Acting as His PR Agent

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When news broke in open court that Sean Hannity was the secret third client  of President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen, many raised concerns over his ethics because he had not disclosed the professional relationship.

Hannity responded by claiming he had a right to privacy. But even Trump-defending frequent Fox News guest Alan Dershowitz scolded Hannity on his own show for the infraction.

Now, as The Guardian has uncovered, Sean Hannity is the owner of almost 900 homes worth $90 million. These were all purchased through shell corporations that hid his empire. And they were financed through the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Many are in low-income neighborhoods, prompting epode on social media to call Hannity a “slumlord.”

The popular far right wing Fox News host has never mentioned any of these financial dealings on-air, despite interviewing HUD Secretary Ben Carson, nor when he’s covered stories about HUD.

The journalistic ethics issues are troubling, and Fox News has to know this.

Perhaps that’s why Fox News is now acting as Hannity’s PR agent.

Fox News Media Relations Senior Manager sent NCRM an email in response to an article we published on the Hannity housing fiasco. She asks us to amend the piece with Hannity’s statement “in full.” While we’re under no obligation to, and will not, we will offer readers the statement, as sent via Fox News:

It is ironic that I am being attacked for investing my personal money in communities that badly need such investment and in which, I am sure, those attacking me have not invested their money. The fact is, these are investments that I do not individually select, control, or know the details about; except that obviously I believe in putting my money to work in communities that otherwise struggle to receive such support.

I have never discussed with anybody at HUD the original loans that were obtained in the Obama years, nor the subsequent refinance of such loans, as they are a private matter. I had no role in, or responsibility for, any HUD involvement in any of these investments. I can say that every rigorous process and strict standard of improvement requirements were followed; all were met, fulfilled and inspected.

The LLC’s are REAL companies that spend real investment money on real properties.

Insisting the details are “a private matter,” Hannity would like you to believe he is a hero concerned about low-income Americans.

We’ll let his reputation speak for itself.

Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license

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Fox News

Former Clinton Strategist Mark Penn: Hillary is Not Running in 2020

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6 years ago

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July 8, 2018

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Fox News/Video

While two of America’s cable news networks were covering the rescue of boys trapped in a Thailand cave, Fox News took time out to complain that Hillary Clinton might run for president in 2020.

“Well, does Hillary Clinton think the third time could be a charm for 2020?” Fox & Friends host Pete Hegseth asked. “In an op-ed, New York Post columnist and former Obama voter Michael Goodwin thinks she is definitely up to something.”

Former Clinton strategist Mark Penn suggested that speculation about Clinton running is “fake news.”

“I think [Goodwin] took some emails that are professionally written and tried to blow it up into a 2020 run,” Penn said. “I think Hillary may not be done with public service, she could make a great Supreme Court justice, she might even be a secretary of state again. I think she may be very interested in public service, but I don’t think she’s planning a secret run in 2020.”

Hegseth, however, was not convinced that Clinton would sit out the 2020 race.

“But is it completely outside the realm of possibility that as 2020 approaches and no other clear front-runner emerges, that she could try to make the case, ‘Hey, the third time really is the charm. Voters are ready for me now’?” Hegseth opined.

Penn pointed out that former Vice President Joe Biden has already emerged as a front-runner for Democrats in 2020.

“Clearly never too early to speculate, which we’re doing this morning,” Hegseth concluded.

In the meantime, both CNN and MSNBC were focused on breaking news that a soccer team trapped in a cave in Thailand were being rescued.

Watch the video below from Fox News.

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Fox News

Fox News Accused of Lying After Using Photos of Eagles Players Praying to Suggest They Were Protesting

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6 years ago

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June 5, 2018

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Many of varying political and religious beliefs are expressing outrage at Fox News for using multiple photos of Eagles players praying in a story supporting President Trump and his decision to uninvite the Super Bowl champions from a planned White House celebration.

Fox News anchor Shannon Bream delivered this misleading report Monday night:

Some members of the Philadelphia Eagles have spoken out against President Trump, and from the start several made clear they had no intention of visiting the president in the White House, which is a traditional event for every team that wins the Super Bowl.

But no Philadelphia Eagle player exercised their right to protest by kneeling during the national anthem last year, so suggesting there is a “controversy” with the players is false. They made clear they are not attending the White House because of the president, not because of the national anthem.

But that’s not what Fox News viewers saw or heard in several different news reports, including Bream’s, and in other Fox News reports.

This NJ.com headline sums it all up: “Like Donald Trump, Fox News gets caught lying about Eagles.”

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz was among those in the photos Fox News used of players praying:

Many expressed outrage at the right wing cable news channel’s dishonesty and deceit:

 

 

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Fox News

Fox & Friends: Kim Jong-Un ‘Has to Murder His People’

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6 years ago

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May 23, 2018

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Fox News contributor and Trump advisor Pete Hegseth says North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un “has to murder his people.” Hegseth, who was rumored to be a top Trump choice to run the Veterans Administration, made his startling remarks on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning (video below).

Hegseth was responding to a question about why he thinks Kim Jong-un “agreed” to meet with President Trump. (In reality, Trump was the one who agreed to the meeting – in fact, jumped at it without consulting his top advisors.)

“I think he wants a picture with the American president,” Hegseth told the “Fox & Friends” co-hosts. “The sanctions are having massive effect there,” he also added.

“And then I think there’s probably a point at which the guy who wants to meet with Dennis Rodman and loves NBA basketball and loves Western pop culture,” Hegseth said of the North Korean murderous tyrant, “probably doesn’t love being the guy that has to murder his people all day long.”

To be clear, Fox News’ Pete Hegseth, a man who occasionally advises the president, just said Kim Jong-un “has to” murder his own citizens.

A South Korean report noted that from 2011 to 2016 Kim Jong-un executed more than 340 of his citizens. And update offers names and/or positions and reasons for execution of government officials Kim executed. The overall numbers no doubt are far higher.

Watch:

Some responses via Twitter:

 

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