Fox News host Sean Hannity once aimed a gun at Juan Williams, the network’s political analyst, CNN Money reported Thursday.
Hannity allegedly turned on the weapon’s laser sight, causing a red dot to appear on Williams’s body, according to the network, which said it confirmed the October incident between Hannity and Williams, who is also a contributor to The Hill, with three sources.
The sources told the outlet that the off-camera incident disturbed Williams and others present, though Hannity was merely showing off, according to the report.
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“This incident is being sensationalized,” Williams said in a statement reported by the network.
“Everything was under total control throughout and I never felt like I was put in harm’s way. It was clear that Sean put my safety and security above all else and we continue to be great friends,” he added.
Hannity’s colleagues brought the incident to the attention of Fox News executives, CNN reported, although it remains unclear if anything happened afterwards.
Sources told the outlet that the event was reported to Bill Shine, Fox News’s co-president and a veteran executive there. Shine is a longtime friend of Hannity’s and once served as a producer on his television show, CNN noted.
“Sean Hannity has been trained in firearm safety since he was 11 years old and has a license to carry a gun in five states, including New York,” Fox News said in a statement Thursday.
“The situation was thoroughly investigated and it was found that no one was put in any danger,” a network spokesperson added, noting the incident was referred to the company’s legal and human resources department.
Hannity also acknowledged the incident in a statement Thursday to CNN.
“While discussing the issue of firearms, I showed my good friend Juan Williams my unloaded firearm in a professional and safe manner for educational purposes only,” Hannity said.
“Every precautionary procedure that I have been trained in since the age of 11 was followed. I’ve had a conceal carry permit in five states for all of my adult life. Any other interpretation of this is outright false reporting.”