A heated television interview descended into chaos Wednesday night when a Tennessee state representative launched personal attacks against Fox News host Sean Hannity during a segment about immigration enforcement.
State Rep. Justin Jones appeared on Hannity’s program to discuss United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Notably, the 30-year-old Democrat has previously advocated for the complete elimination of ICE.
The conversation rapidly deteriorated after Hannity displayed information about Tennessee residents he stated were harmed by individuals in the country illegally.
Jones responded by attacking the host personally, and at one point even Hannity that he “hangs out with pedophiles.”
“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 pedophiles in the White House, Sean,” Jones stated on air.
The exchange turned into more than four minutes of both men speaking over each other.
Hannity attempted to press Jones on whether he could identify specific crime victims in Tennessee.
Jones redirected his comments toward Hannity’s audience rather than addressing the host’s questions.
He accused Hannity of deliberately frightening viewers about their immigrant neighbors.
“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. He does not care about crime, he hangs out with pedophiles and criminals in Mar-a-Lago,” Jones said directly to cameras.
The representative continued his attack, stating Hannity does not genuinely care about pursuing criminals.
“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,” Jones added.
Throughout the tirade, Hannity persistently attempted to get Jones to respond to his original question.
When Jones finished speaking, Hannity remarked, “OK, did you, you got your little talking point out? You feel good about yourself? This is not MSNDC.”
The host then questioned Jones about previous statements comparing ICE to the Ku Klux Klan.
“What do you know about the KKK? Do you know a lot about the gestapo? Do you know what the KKK did?” Hannity asked.
While Hannity spoke, Jones displayed a photograph showing masked ICE agents, claiming they were terrorizing American cities.
Regarding the KKK, Jones stated, “They ran my grandparents out of Tennessee. My dad was a US Marine. He fought for his country. Who have you served, Sean? Besides from your pocketbook.”
Hannity maintained his line of questioning, asking whether Jones could name any Tennessee crime victims hurt by illegal immigrants.
Jones responded by saying he could identify people being criminalized by the current administration.
“You never picked up a phone and got off your a** to talk to one constituent, ever. To talk to them and give them condolences, because you are making them less safe and secure,” Hannity stated.
Jones countered by claiming Hannity receives $45 million yearly to maintain public fear, preventing attention on corporate executives eliminating healthcare and closing farms.
“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,” the representative said.
Jones insisted the true problem facing Americans involves corporate CEOs rather than immigrants.
“It’s not the immigrants – it’s the corporate CEOs who are screwing them over so that they cannot afford groceries and their healthcare. That’s who we need to go after,” Jones stated.
Hannity responded by saying he cares about the American people.
Jones, still displaying his photograph, replied, “The America I believe in does not look like masked men targeting people. Shameful. Shameful.”
The host accused Jones of encouraging violence against ICE agents.
Through additional crosstalk, Jones told Hannity, “You should be ashamed of yourself. 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.”
Hannity called Jones a disgrace multiple times.
Jones responded, “You have that thousand-dollar suit on and you get paid millions of dollars to lie to people.”
He claimed the actual threat to Americans resides in the White House rather than among immigrants.
“Your children will be ashamed of where you stand in this time, Sean. Ashamed that you are on the wrong side of history,” Jones declared.
The representative again asked God to help Hannity stop associating with perverts in Mar-a-Lago.
Hannity terminated the interview at that point.
WATCH:
Jones’ references to pedophiles appeared aimed at Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has not been linked to any crimes committed by the deceased financier.
