By Dave Goldiner May 24, 2017

Fox News host Sean Hannity has temporarily backed off from his embrace of conspiracy theories surrounding the murder of Seth Rich — after the family of the slain Democratic staffer pleaded for respect.

The embattled right wing media kingpin scrapped a planned appearance by hacker Kim Dotcom that he had promised would offer a bombshell breakthrough in the puzzling case.

The cancellation came after Rich’s parents pleaded in a Washington Post opinion piece for an end to political speculation about the July 2016 slaying, which they believe was a botched street robbery near Rich’s home in a gentrifying Washington D.C. neighborhood.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“We ask those purveying falsehoods to give us peace,” the Riches wrote.

Fox News retracted a story pushing claims that Rich was behind the leaks Tuesday. But a defiant Hannity insisted he wouldn’t back down. “I retracted nothing,” he said.

Hannity has relentlessly pushed unfounded suggestions that Rich might have been the source for the explosive Wikileaks dump of Democratic emails during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Far right wing supporters of President Trump believe the slaying of Rich might have been in retaliation for his supposed leaking. They claim that information could exonerate Trump of ties between his campaign and Russia, even though it is unclear how the two issues are related.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount