Mike Segar/Reuters
Records reviewed by The Guardian show that Fox News’ Sean Hannity is the owner a real-estate empire spanning various states and spread across 20 shell companies. His holdings include “at least 877 residential units, which were bought for a total of just under $89 million,” the newspaper found. He reportedly bought up the majority in 2013, after banks had foreclosed on the homes of owners who defaulted their mortgages. Hannity was a critical voice on the foreclosure rate during the Obama administration and claimed there were “millions more Americans suffering under this president.” He also purchased apartment complexes in Georgia with help from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which insured loans funding the purchases under the National Housing Act. The loans were first insured under the Obama administration but were increased by $5 million under Trump HUD Secretary Ben Carson. The Fox News host had Carson on his show in June 2017 to discuss HUD’s agenda and did not disclose his business interests on the show. The Guardian report comes after Hannity told his viewers he discussed real estate with President Trump’s embattled personal attorney, Michael Cohen. In a Monday morning statement, Hannity wrote: It is ironic that I am being attacked for investing my personal money in communities that badly need such investment and in which, I am sure, those attacking me have not invested their money. The fact is, these are investments that I do not individually select, control, or know the details about; except that obviously I believe in putting my money to work in communities that otherwise struggle to receive such support. I have never discussed with anybody at HUD the original loans that were obtained in the Obama years, nor the subsequent refinance of such loans, as they are a private matter. I had no role in, or responsibility for, any HUD involvement in any of these investments. I can say that every rigorous process and strict standard of improvement requirements were followed; all were met, fulfilled and inspected. The LLC’s are REAL companies that spend real investment money on real properties.”