Hannity compares Russia investigation to birtherism

Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday compared the investigation into possible ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russia to the “birtherism” conspiracy theory that claims former President Barack Obama wasn’t born in the United States.

Speaking to Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow on his show, Hannity accused Trump’s critics of pursuing the Russia investigation with the same fanaticism as “birther” conspiracy theorists.

“This has now become, like, ‘Russia-Trump-conspiracy-birther-conspiracy,'” Hannity said as he began the interview. 

“Right,” Sekulow agreed.

Twitter jumped on Hannity for the comparison.

So he’s saying the birther stuff was fake??? Does the president know Hannity is calling him a liar?

— Anita Carey (@nova_satori) June 20, 2017

Holy shit. Sean Hannity just compared the #TrumpRussia investigation to the “crazy BIRTHER conspiracy” We’ve come full circle guys

— Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) June 20, 2017

Hannity defending Trump against Russia conspiracies by comparing them to birther conspiracies. The snake has finally got a hold of its tail.

— Vann R. Newkirk II (@fivefifths) June 20, 2017

Hannity is an outspoken defender of Trump, who frequently questioned Obama’s heritage during the Obama presidency. Hannity once interviewed Trump about Trump’s support for the conspiracy theory, including Trump’s efforts to send investigators to Hawaii during Obama’s second term to determine if Obama’s birth certificate was real.

{mosads}In 2011, Hannity asked Trump about his efforts to investigate Obama’s birth certificate during an interview about Trump’s political aspirations. In subsequent television appearances, Hannity defended Trump and other supporters of the birther conspiracy theory.

Hannity said on a Fox News panel in 2011 that “all Donald Trump said was ‘show the birth certificate and move on.'”

In a 2011 interview with TV host Jerry Springer, Hannity again defended the conspiracy, shouting down Springer when he tried to mention Obama’s race as a reason for the conspiracy theories.

“Don’t bring up race. Do not bring up race. Do not bring up race,” Hannity told Springer in 2011. “It is a constitutional requirement.”