Sean Hannity eagerly pumps Julian Assange for information about 'significant' Hillary Clinton leaks


Sean Hannity wasn't always a fan of Julian Assange, but the Fox News personality has warmed up to Assange now that the WikiLeaks editor is trashing the mainstream media and promising to release damaging information on Hillary Clinton. "I do hope you get free one day and wish you the best," Hannity said in the first part of his interview with Assange on Tuesday night. On Wednesday night, Hannity played the second half of the interview, and aside from chiding Assange for suggesting that Clinton will beat Donald Trump — "I don't think anyone can accurately predict right now which way this election is going to go" — Hannity had only nice things to say.
"I give you more credit that those in the liberal press," Hannity said, echoing Assange's claims that The New York Times and Politico have a political bias against covering WikiLeaks dumps on Democrats. Then he started pressing Assange about the promised "significant" information WikiLeaks will release on Clinton before the November election. "Can you give us any insight on that information?" he asked. "Do you think it will have a dramatic effect on the electoral results?" "I do think the information that we're working on — around the clock — is significant," Assange said. "It's up to people to look at it and run with it. Now, I'm sure that Fox News will run with some of that."
Hannity tried again: "If you had to maybe grade it on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most significant, how significant is it?" "Well, there's not just one type of piece of information," Assange explained. "We have thousands and thousands of records. So each hundreds of records gives you a story, so you have to kind of understand each story, and that is a lot of work, to format it, to verify it, to put it in particular batches to be released." Then he asked for donations.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Do you have any information, any batches if you will, on Donald Trump?" Hannity asked. "We have information which touches on the Republican Party's campaign," Assange said. "We're assessing that information, we will publish it of course. But, you know, Donald Trump is — he makes very controversial statements, he doesn't have a history of being in government." "He doesn't use email, you know that, right?" Hannity said, grinning. "Donald Trump does not use email, personally." "Probably a wise choice," Assange said, laughing.
When Hannity asked about privacy rights, Assange shrugged: "Well, look, we publish information from political parties and governments," he said. "We're not interested in information from private individuals unless they're billionaires or trying to manipulate or drive the political system in some way." "Like, somebody like George Soros would be on your radar?" Hannity asked. Assange assured him that WikiLeaks will be republishing information on Soros. You can watch the exchange below. Peter Weber
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
5 heavy-handed cartoons about ICE and deportation
Cartoons Artists take on international students, the Supreme Court, and more
By The Week US
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
Is Prince Harry owed protection?
Talking Point The Duke of Sussex claims he has been singled out for 'unjustified and inferior treatment' over decision to withdraw round-the-clock security
By The Week UK
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US