Executive Summary
- Unredacted text messages from 2020 show Jeanine Pirro’s ardent support for President Trump and criticism of her then-colleague Sean Hannity.
- Pirro, a close ally of Donald Trump, has been appointed U.S. attorney for Washington D.C., pledging to assist President Trump in addressing crime in the District.
- Pirro is named in the Smartmatic lawsuit, which alleges Fox hosts knowingly promoted false claims of voter fraud, while Fox News asserts its coverage merely reported on newsworthy allegations.
The Story So Far
- The revelation of Jeanine Pirro’s 2020 text messages, which show her ardent support for President Trump and active involvement in his political efforts, provides crucial context as she was recently appointed U.S. attorney for Washington D.C. These communications have surfaced amidst an ongoing lawsuit by Smartmatic, which alleges that Pirro and other Fox News personalities knowingly promoted false claims of voter fraud following the 2020 election, directly linking her past media role to current legal proceedings and her new government position.
Why This Matters
- The unredacted text messages revealing Jeanine Pirro’s ardent support and active political engagement for President Trump in 2020 raise significant questions about her impartiality and potential conflicts of interest in her new role as U.S. attorney for Washington D.C., a position requiring strict objectivity. Furthermore, these communications could provide additional context for the ongoing Smartmatic lawsuit, potentially bolstering claims that her alleged promotion of false voter fraud narratives was driven by a clear partisan agenda.
Who Thinks What?
- Jeanine Pirro’s communications reveal her ardent support for President Trump and the Republican party, as well as her critical view of Sean Hannity’s demeanor.
- Smartmatic alleges that Fox News hosts, including Pirro, knowingly promoted false claims of voter fraud and defamed their company, causing significant damage.
- Fox News asserts that its coverage merely reported on newsworthy allegations, that Smartmatic’s business was already suffering and it has grossly inflated its damage claims, and that the network is defending its press freedoms.
Unredacted text messages from 2020 reveal Jeanine Pirro, the former Fox News host recently appointed U.S. attorney for Washington D.C., expressing ardent support for President Trump and criticizing her then-colleague Sean Hannity. The communications surfaced amidst ongoing legal proceedings where Pirro is among the Fox personalities accused by Smartmatic of knowingly promoting false claims regarding voter fraud.
Pirro’s Communications
In a September 2020 text to then-Republican National Committee head Ronna McDaniel, Pirro wrote, “I work so hard for the party across the country. … I’m the # 1 watched show on all news cable all weekend. I work so hard for the President and party.”
Another message from October of that year detailed an Oval Office meeting with Trump, where Pirro complained about Hannity. She described Hannity’s entry, stating, “He storms in like he owns the place, throws his papers on the Pres desk and says, you don’t mind if I use your private bathroom, and walks into bathroom within Oval and uses it. Looks at me and says, I got to talk to him. Ie, you go. It’s all abt him, period. No one else matters.”
New Role and Political Stance
Pirro, known as a vocal political commentator and a close ally of Donald Trump, departed Fox News earlier this year following her appointment as U.S. attorney in Washington D.C. In her new capacity, she has pledged to assist President Trump in addressing crime in the District.
She has also voiced criticism against community activists and Democrats who have opposed the administration’s anti-crime initiatives.
Smartmatic Lawsuit
Pirro is named in court documents by Smartmatic, which alleges that certain Fox hosts knowingly advanced Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and defamed the company through criticism of its software. Smartmatic’s legal action asserts that these actions damaged the company’s reputation.
Fox News has responded in legal filings and public statements, asserting that its coverage merely reported on newsworthy allegations of election impropriety made by President Trump and his allies. The network also contends that Smartmatic has significantly inflated its valuation in its damage claims.
Furthermore, Fox has highlighted recent allegations of bribery and money laundering faced by Smartmatic executives. In a statement to The Hill, Fox News said, “The evidence shows that Smartmatic’s business and reputation were badly suffering long before any claims by President Trump’s lawyers on Fox News and that Smartmatic grossly inflated its damage claims to generate headlines and chill free speech.”
The network added, “Now, in the aftermath of Smartmatic’s executives getting indicted for bribery charges, we are eager and ready to continue defending our press freedoms.” A trial in the Fox-Smartmatic case is not anticipated before late 2026.
The newly revealed text messages offer insight into Jeanine Pirro’s deep engagement with President Trump’s political efforts and her candid views on media colleagues. These communications underscore her continued prominence in both legal and political spheres, particularly as her new role as U.S. attorney aligns with her past public support for the Trump administration.
