OAN host suggests ‘traitors’ who ‘stole’ election should be executed

A host on the far-right cable channel One American News Network, which has amplified a fabricated narrative fuelled by Donald Trump and conspiracy theorists that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” from him and his supporters, has suggested “traitors” who “tried to steal power” by defeating the former president should be executed.

Pearson Sharp’s monologue – expressing no awareness that a pro-Trump mob of hundreds stormed the US Capitol to toss out the votes of millions of Americans – claimed that the election was “actually overthrown” by Democrats, despite a complete lack of evidence from Trump’s own campaign and administration officials, numerous hand recounts and elections administrators across the US.

On the broadcast on 23 June, Mr Sharp said: “How many people were involved in these efforts to undermine the election? Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands? How many people does it take to carry out a coup against the presidency?”