Rob Finnerty
{{Short description|American television host}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rob Finnerty
| image = Rob Finnerty by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption = Finnerty in 2025
| birthname =
| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|May 1, 1982}}
| birth_place = Massachusetts, U.S.
| education =
| alma_mater = Fairfield University
| occupation = News host
| years_active = 2004–present
| television = Newsmax
News Host
(2021–present)
WTSP 10 Tampa Bay
Morning Anchor
(2017–2020)
KCTV Kansas City
(2016–2017)
KBAK Bakersfield
NECN New England Cable News
}}
Rob Finnerty (born May 1, 1982) is an American television news anchor and host. He previously hosted the morning news/talk program Wake Up America on Newsmax TV. In October 2024, Finnerty started hosting a nightly Newsmax primetime show, Finnerty, starting October 8th. Finnerty airs at 8 pm ET, a timeslot previously occupied by Eric Bolling before exiting Newsmax earlier in the year.[https://barrettmedia.com/2024/10/02/newsmax-tabs-rob-finnerty-to-host-new-primetime-program/ Newsmax Tabs Rob Finnerty to Host New Primetime Program]
Early life and education
Finnerty was born in Massachusetts and attended Fairfield University in Connecticut.{{cite web |title=Rob Finnerty Bio |url=https://factprofiles.com/rob-finnerty/ |website=Fact Profiles |date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=May 29, 2021}}
Career
Finnerty worked for WTSP in Tampa Bay as a morning news anchor.
He also worked for one year at KCTV in Kansas City and KBAK-TV in Bakersfield, California.{{cite web |last1=Roa |first1=Ray |title=Former Tampa Bay news anchor Rob Finnerty now works for Trump's favorite channel Newsmax |url=https://www.cltampa.com/news-views/local-news/article/21147078/tampa-bay-news-anchor-rob-finnerty-is-now-a-talking-head-on-trumps-new-favorite-cable-channel-newsmax |website=Creative Loafing}}
He currently works at Newsmax TV.
Controversies
In November 2008, Finnerty was charged with homicide and operating under the influence after hitting and killing a pedestrian in Boston.{{cite web |title=WEEI Guy Charged in Fatal Crash |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2008/11/18/weei-guy-charged-in-fatal-crash/ |website=Boston Herald|date=November 18, 2008 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/transcript-tab/2008/11/19/man-killed-by-drunk-driver/40467568007/ | title=Man killed by drunk driver was walking home from work at Stop and Shop }} The homicide charges were ultimately dropped when Suffolk District Attorney dismissed the charge{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2009/11/06/homicide-rap-dropped-in-fatal-oui/|title = Homicide rap dropped in fatal OUI|date = November 6, 2009}} when a collision analysis report showed there was no way any driver – impaired or sober – could have avoided striking the pedestrian when he stepped into the street, Finnerty pleaded guilty to OUI in November 2009.{{cite web |title=Homicide Rap Dropped in Fatal OUI |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2009/11/06/homicide-rap-dropped-in-fatal-oui/ |website=Boston Herald|date=November 6, 2009 }}
On May 10, 2021, Finnerty made national headlines when he confronted former Obama speechwriter David Litt for trying to insert Newsmax criticisms during an interview about Elon Musk and Saturday Night Live.{{cite web |title=Ex-Obama speechwriter confronts Newsmax host over false election claims |url=https://www.axios.com/2021/05/10/newsmax-dominion-election-conspiracy-lies |website=Yahoo |date=May 10, 2021 |publisher=Axios}}
On April 1, 2022, Finnerty interrupted his show with the false breaking news that "Russia has apparently surrendered" to Ukraine, then asking unaware guest Mark Halperin for his thoughts.{{cite news |last1=Falzone |first1=Diana |title=Newsmax 'Furious' Over Anchor's 'Embarrassing' April Fools' Joke About Russia |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/newsmax-furious-over-anchors-embarrassing-april-fools-joke-about-russia |website=Daily Beast|date=April 9, 2022 }} When Halperin began to respond, Finnerty cut him off "to gleefully say that the whole thing was a prank" and mock Halperin for falling for it, upsetting fellow Newsmax employees behind the scenes, according to several news outlets.{{cite web |last1=Getahun |first1=Hannah |title=Newsmax employees are furious after an anchor falsely said on air that Russia surrendered to Ukraine as part of an April Fools' prank, report says |url=https://www.insider.com/newsmax-anchor-made-april-fools-joke-on-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-2022-4 |website=Insider}}
Personal life
He is married with two children – a son and a daughter.{{cite web |title=Rob Finnerty Bio |url=https://factprofiles.com/rob-finnerty/ |website=Fact Profiles |date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=May 29, 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Fairfield University alumni