NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Fox’s Hannity, Carlson enjoy Trump rally ratings bonanza

LOS ANGELES

Ratings figures show Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson enjoyed a ratings surge from last week’s 2020 Trump campaign kickoff rally.

Viewers watching last week’s event in Orlando, Fla., boosted cable star “Hannity” to a top 10 showing among both broadcast and cable programs.

According to Nielsen figures released Tuesday, Hannity’s rally coverage drew 5 million viewers and ranked seventh among all weekly programs.

“Tucker Carlson Tonight” landed at No. 14 with 4.5 million viewers.

While Fox News covered the hour-plus rally live and in full, it got relatively limited attention from competitors MSNBC and CNN.

Overall, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” was the most-watched show with 10 million viewers.

Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for June 17-23 (listings include the week’s ranking and viewership):

“America’s Got Talent” (Tuesday), NBC, 10 million; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 7.1 million; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 6.2 million; “The Bachelorette,” ABC, 5.6 million; “NCIS,” CBS, 5.5 million; “Highwire Live in Times Square,” ABC, 5.3 million; “Hannity” (Tuesday), Fox News Channel, 5 million; “Holey Moley,” ABC, 4.87 million; “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 4.86 million; “American Ninja Warrior,” NBC, 4.79 million.

Justice Department: Omarosa didn’t file financial disclosure

WASHINGTON

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Tuesday against former White House staffer and reality-TV star Omarosa Manigault Newman, alleging she failed to file a legally required financial disclosure after she was fired from her job in the Trump administration.

The suit alleges Manigault Newman, who worked as the director of communications in the White House office of public liaison, violated the federal Ethics in Government Act. The law requires some federal employees to file public financial disclosure reports.

The Justice Department asserts Manigault Newman was required to file a final public financial disclosure report within 30 days of her December 2017 termination, but says she failed to do so. The lawsuit describes repeated emails from White House officials reminding her that she needed to file the disclosure.

Cosby files appeal over testimony from other female accusers

Comedian Bill Cosby has filed a lengthy appeal of the sex-assault conviction that landed him in prison, complaining the testimony of five other accusers was “strikingly dissimilar” to the pending felony charges and should not have been aired in court.

The appeal Tuesday challenges Judge Steven O’Neill’s view that the women’s testimony showed “chilling similarities” and pointed to a “signature” crime.

Associated Press