Hannity the Harasser?
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Here we go again....
A former Fox News guest says that Sean Hannity sexually harassed her.
Political commentator Debbie Schlussel claims that host Sean Hannity Hannity repeatedly invited her back to his hotel room during an event they were at together in Detroit.
“He had some event at a bookstore where he signed his book for people standing in line. He asked me to come meet him at this book signing,” Schlussel said.
“So I met him there and it was very awkward. He had me stand up there with him while he signed books and I felt very weird. These people don’t know me and they didn’t come for me to sign their books. So then I left to get ready for the show and he said, ‘Why don’t you come back with me to my hotel?’ and I said no, I have to get ready for the show.”
The NY Daily News writes that Schlussel, who describes herself as a “conservative political commentator, radio talk show host, columnist and attorney” on her personal website, also said Hannity and then-executive producer Bill Shine, who now serves as co-president of Fox News, “head-faked” her.
“Sean came up to me and said we’re gonna double-team, which was a weird phrase to use, this Palestinian guy that I was up against on the show,” Schlussel said.
“And then every time I tried to open my mouth and say something, they yelled at me and said, 'obey your host, you can’t say anything or else we’re gonna shut off your microphone.'”
After the show, Schlussel claims Hannity invited her back to his hotel room again. She says she declined once again.
“And then after that, I wasn’t booked on a show again. And he called me and yelled at me,” she said. “It was made clear to me that I didn’t go back to his hotel with him after and I got a very weird feeling about the whole thing, and I kind of knew I wouldn’t be back on his show.”
In a statement to the Daily News, Hannity denied all accusations.
“LET ME BE CLEAR THE COMMENTS ABOUT ME ON A RADIO SHOW THIS WEEK by this individual ARE 100% false and a complete fabrication. This individual is a serial harasser who has been lying about me for well over a decade. The individual has a history of making provably false statements against me in an effort to slander, smear and besmirch my reputation,” he said.
“The individual has not just slandered me over the years but many people who this individual disagrees with. This individual desperately seeks attention by any means necessary, including making unfounded personal attacks and using indefensible and outrageous political rhetoric."
“My patience with this individual is over. I have retained a team of some of the finest and toughest lawyers in the country who are now in the process of laying out the legal course of action we will be taking against this individual.”
Hannity also threatened legal action against Schlussel.
“In this fiercely divided and vindictive political climate I will no longer allow slander and lies about me to go unchallenged, as I see a coordinated effort afoot to now silence those with conservative views,” he said. “I will fight every single lie about me by all legal means available to me as an American.”
