An interview between Fox News host Sean Hannity and Tennessee State Rep. Justin Jones unraveled fast this week after Jones accused the longtime prime-time host of “hanging out with pedophiles and criminals in Mar-a-Lago.”
Hannity invited Jones onto his Jan. 20 program to discuss the recent actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jones, a Democrat and outspoken critic of ICE, has opposed the agency for years. Last June, he introduced House Bill 1442 — dubbed the “Stop American Gestapo Act” — which would prohibit law enforcement agents from wearing a “mask, face covering, or personal disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of the law enforcement officer’s official duties.”
During the segment, Hannity leaned into a familiar pro-ICE tactic: a graphic displaying crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, including a list of alleged offenses tied to Tennessee.
Jones immediately turned the “list” back on Hannity.
“I’m glad you’re bringing up a list, because if you want to go after rapists and criminals, you would stop hanging out with perverts and hanging out with pedophiles in the White House, Sean,” Jones said.
Hannity tried to redirect the conversation, pressing Jones to name “one victim of violent crime” in his state. But Jones continued, speaking directly to viewers as he accused Hannity of using fear to push his point.
“This man wants you to be afraid. He wants you to be fearful of your immigrant neighbors because he wants to protect the billionaires who keep you from having healthcare, letting farms close,” Jones said. “He does not care about crime; he hangs out with pedophiles and criminals in Mar-a-Lago.”
Jones’ references to “lists” and “pedophiles” appeared to be aimed at late sex offender billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who was a well-known friend of President Donald Trump and was photographed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate multiple times. While Hannity also owns property in Palm Beach and is a frequent Mar-a-Lago guest, neither Trump nor Hannity has been linked to Epstein’s crimes.
The exchange only grew more confrontational. Jones continued: “[Hannity] does not care about going after rapists. He cares about keeping you fearful to control you, because he wants to distract you from the real enemy, which are the corporate CEOs who are screwing you over.”
Hannity snapped back: “Okay, you got your little talking point out? You feel good about yourself? This is not MSDNC.”
Hannity then challenged Jones over past remarks in which the lawmaker compared ICE to the KKK, referencing the use of face coverings and disguises.
“What do you know about the KKK? Do you know a lot about the Gestapo? Do you know what the KKK did?” Hannity asked.
“They ran my grandparents out of Tennessee,” Jones replied. “My dad was a U.S. Marine. He fought for his country. Who have you served, Sean? Other than your pocketbook.”
From there, the discussion collapsed into overlapping arguments, with both men talking over each other and trading insults rather than addressing the original questions.
“You don’t care about the American people. You’re distracting from the real issues. You want them to be afraid of immigrants because all you have is fear,” Jones told Hannity.
“I care about the American people,” Hannity insisted.
Jones dismissed the claim and closed with a moral rebuke.
“The America I believe in does not look like masked men targeting people. Shameful. Shameful… I’m going to pray for you that you lay down this burden and these lies, Sean. Shame on you, my brother. God have mercy on you,” he said.
“You’re a disgrace, my brother. You’re a disgrace,” Hannity mocked back — but Jones continued, accusing the host of profiting from misinformation.
“You have that thousand-dollar suit on, and you get paid millions of dollars to lie to people,” Jones said. “The threat to the American people is in the White House, it’s not these immigrants… Your children will be ashamed of where you stand in this time, Sean. Ashamed that you are on the wrong side of history.”
“Tell Trump to put down the pardon pen and pick up a mirror if he wants to go after criminals,” Jones added, before Hannity cut him off.
