Newly released text messages between former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Fox News host Sean Hannity reveal a relationship that appears to thrive on self-pity, conspiracies and unearned praise. Hundreds of messages that were sent between the two in 2017 and 2018 were unsealed during Manafort’s federal court case in Washington on Friday. Though Hannity’s name is redacted in some parts, he calls himself Sean and refers to working for Fox. In other parts, Hannity’s name is left unredacted. The Fox host stood by his comments in a tweet.

My view of the Special Counsel investigation and the treatment of Paul Manafort were made clear every day to anyone who listens to my radio show or watches my TV show. — Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) June 21, 2019

In the exchanges, the two complain about an investigation into Manafort that would ultimately lead to him being convicted earlier this year of crimes including conspiracy against the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct justice, bank fraud and tax fraud. He is currently serving seven and a half years in prison. “Don’t let those assholes get u down,” Hannity texted Manafort in October 2017. “Punch back HARD.” In a later text, Hannity painted himself as a martyr fighting for his country no matter the consequences. “There has never been a time 30 years radio 22 on Fox where I felt a bullseye at my head every single day,” Hannity texted. “It’s an attempted kill shot a day. And Paul, like u, I don’t give a shit about me.”

U.S. authorities Sean Hannity tells Paul Manafort he has a bull's-eye on his head.