'Burn in Hell': Reporter with epilepsy goes off on Sean Hannity for Clinton health conspiracies
Newsweek writer Kurt Eichenwald took on Fox News host Sean Hannity's dubious attack on Hillary Clinton's health on Tuesday by demanding to see proof that GOP hopeful Donald Trump does not have Alzheimer's.
During recent Fox News broadcasts, Hannity has focused on what critics call "reckless" conspiracy theories questioning the Democratic nominee's health.
Eichenwald, who has epilepsy, responded in a blistering column for Newsweek over the weekend.
"Fuck you, Sean," he wrote. "Your willingness to deceive your viewers—to degrade those of us with epilepsy, to suggest something is a seizure when it looks nothing like one, to leave people dumber about this condition—is unforgivable."
"And as for you Sean, if you are unable to show the backbone to undo the damage you have done, you can understand why I say you 'purport' to be a Catholic," the columnist said. "If you really were one, you’d be worried about burning in hell for what you’ve done."
During a Tuesday appearance on CNN, Donald Trump supporter Amy Kremer told Eichenwald that people were "concerned" about Clinton's health.
"Sean Hannity tried to say that [a video of Hillary Clinton] was seizures," Eichenwald replied. "I have seizures and I've got to tell you it was incredibly offensive that Sean Hannity took something that no competent doctor would ever say was a seizure -- it was Hillary Clinton goofing around -- and try and make it into a medical case."
Eichenwald also called out Kremer for citing "people are saying" as her source on Clinton's health.
"This is the Trump garbage approach," he explained. "You get all the conspiracy theorists online talking about something, you get Sean Hannity talking about something, and then they say, 'Well, people want to know.'"
"Here's is what I want to know," Eichenwald said, holding up a letter from Trump's doctor. "I will say flat out that this is not a real letter... it's not from an internist, it's from a doctor who treats digestive problems."
"It says Donald Trump will be the healthiest president in the history of the United States," he continued. "That sounds a lot like Donald Trump. It doesn't have a real letterhead. The letterhead was written on Microsoft Word."
"You're not qualified to say what's accurate and what's not with Donald Trump," Kremer insisted.
"Please stop lying," Eichenwald replied. "I have not said a word about Donald Trump's health. What I have said is this is not a real letter."
Kremer asserted that a head injury sustained by Clinton in 2012 "could have long-term lasting effects."
"I think there is evidence," she said. "ABC News reported in 2012 about her falling and having a concussion."
"But her doctor said she recovered and she testified before the Benghazi committee for a very long time," CNN host Carol Costello observed. "I will say if you put on doctors who have not examined the patient, that's not really responsible."
Eichenwald concluded the interview by demonstrating how conspiracy theories were created.
"Donald Trump's family has a history of Alzheimer's," he remarked. "Donald Trump has never released a letter from an internist. He's released a letter saying his primary physician is a doctor who treats the digestive system."
"If you want to play this game, we can play this game," Eichenwald continued. "But if Donald Trump wants to prove he doesn't have Alzheimer's then he should release all of his medical records."
"See how easy conspiracy theories are?"
Watch the video below from CNN, broadcast Aug. 16, 2016.