Fox News personality Geraldo Rivera told network host Sean Hannity on Thursday that President Nixon "wouldn't have been forced to resign" if Hannity were around in his day.

Hannity, a vocal defender of President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE, opened a segment on his radio show with criticism of what he perceives to be anti-Trump bias in the FBI and Justice Department probes into Russian meddling in the presidential election.

“Nixon never would have been forced to resign if you existed in your current state back in 1972, ’73, ’74,” Rivera told Hannity on his radio show.

ADVERTISEMENT

"It’s too bad for Nixon, because nobody like you existed then. I say that because I believe that our prime responsibility now is to unshackle the 45th president of the United States.”

Hannity has been a leading voice calling for congressional Republicans to release a classified memo written by staff for House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes Devin Gerald NunesSunday shows preview: With less than two months to go, race for the White House heats up Sunday shows preview: Republicans gear up for national convention, USPS debate continues in Washington Sunday shows preview: White House, congressional Democrats unable to breach stalemate over coronavirus relief MORE (R-Calif.) that purportedly shows Trump's campaign was the subject of improper surveillance by the FBI.

Rivera said he wished Trump could be "free of this," referring to the Russia investigation, but claimed the probe is now a "toothless tiger" because of the memo's allegations of surveillance abuses at the Justice Department.

Furor surrounding the controversial memo reached a fever pitch on Thursday, and the White House signaled that its release could be imminent.