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SWFL residents react to latest sexual harassment claims against FOX News' Sean Hannity

Posted at 7:43 PM, Apr 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-26 15:40:09-04

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla-- Sean Hannity has been a FOX News host for 21 years and is now the center of a sexual harassment allegation. The woman, Debbie Schlussel who recently made the claim against Hannity said she was never invited back on his show after passing up an offer to to go back to Hannity's hotel room in the early 2000s.

"I listen to his show everyday driving home from work and he seems like a real level headed guy, not the kind who would sexually harass or misuse people," said Naples resident Michael Adams.

Adams said as a loyal Hannity listener he would be surprised if the allegations turn out to be true.

"I am shocked to hear about him not about some of the other people I'm not that shocked about," said Adams.

The other people Adams' is referring to is former FOX News host Bill O'Reilly and former CEO Roger Ailes. Several sexual harassment claims against those two have been settled.

 When asked whether or not this is just an attack on conservative journalist, Yudy Barbera, the chair of the Democratic Party of Collier County said absolutely not.
 
"There's a lot of rumors that that's been going on at fox but somehow they found a way to hide it a lot of women are not willing to continue going through such a humiliation and I'm glad the truth is finally coming out," said Barbera.
 
On Monday night, Hannity addressed the issue head on during his show.
 
Several SWFL residents on Tuesday said they plan to wait a little longer before writing off the conservative host.
 
"Mostly I don't care they are just accusations there's no proof that has come out yet so it makes no difference to me at all," said Naples resident Art Jacobs.
 
National reports said Schlussel has recently made clear she wasn't sexually harassed but stands by her claims that he was "weird and creepy." CLICK HERE to read how Schulussel's backtracked on her initial claim.  
 
Below is a statement from FOX News by Sean Hannity: 
 

"LET ME BE CLEAR THE COMMENTS ABOUT ME ON A RADIO SHOW THIS WEEK by this individual ARE 100% false and a complete fabrication. 

This individual is a serial harasser who has been lying about me for well over a decade. The individual has a history of making provably false statements against me in an effort to slander, smear and besmirch my reputation. 

The individual has not just slandered me over the years but many people who this individual disagrees with. 

This individual desperately seeks attention by any means necessary, including making unfounded personal attacks and using indefensible and outrageous political rhetoric. 

My patience with this individual is over. I have retained a team of some of the finest and toughest lawyers in the country who are now in the process of laying out the legal course of action we will be taking against this individual. 

In this fiercely divided and vindictive political climate I will no longer allow slander and lies about me to go unchallenged, as I see a coordinated effort afoot to now silence those with conservative views. I will fight every single lie about me by all legal means available to me as an American."