Hannity tells Mueller: 'Your witch hunt is now over'

Fox News host Sean Hannity declared that the "witch hunt" against President TrumpDonald John TrumpMichelle Wolf in July Fourth salute: 'God bless abortions and God bless America' Graham: Trump's Supreme Court picks 'all winners' Man arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Trump supporters, GOP lawmaker MORE headed up by special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE is done in the wake of a memo circulating among lawmakers that reportedly details surveillance abuses by the U.S. government.

In the monologue of his show Thursday night, Hannity said that news of the memo, which has not yet been released publicly, was a major obstacle for Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

"I have a message tonight for the special counsel, Robert Mueller," Hannity said, opening his show. "Your witch hunt is now over. Time to close the doors."

Hannity said Thursday that Fox News's sources point to the alleged abuses committed under the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act program are "far bigger" than Watergate, the scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon.

"Our sources are telling us that the abuse of power is far bigger than Watergate," Hannity said. "Remember, Watergate was a third-rate break-in. What we're talking about tonight is the systematic abuse of power, the weaponizing of those powerful tools of intelligence and the shredding of our Fourth Amendment, constitutional rights."

Hannity and other Trump supporters have long argued that the Obama administration used FISA warrants to spy on the Trump transition team and the Trump campaign, charges former members of the Obama administration have vehemently denied.

"This is far worse than Watergate. This is an abuse of surveillance and intelligence to win an election. It is a massive abuse of power, and it was all done by just a few people who think and thought they knew better than you about who should be the president of the United States," Hannity said. "It is the biggest national scandal by far in our lifetime."

"The special counsel, Robert Mueller, and his band of Democratic witch hunters never should have been appointed and they need to be disbanded immediately."

Several GOP lawmakers told Fox News earlier Thursday afternoon that the alleged abuses detailed in the four-page memo are "shocking."

“It's troubling. It is shocking,” Rep. Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsMeadows, Cummings urge Trump officials for more info on separated families Musical instrument manufacturer threatens to move overseas due to Trump tariffs House passes measure demanding DOJ documents MORE (R-N.C.) told Fox News. “Part of me wishes that I didn't read it because I don’t want to believe that those kinds of things could be happening in this country that I call home and love so much.”