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After months of Washington’s schedule, Congress will act on a $ 900 billion package deal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it included direct payments to individuals and a boost to the payment protection program. (December 21)
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The claim: Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi arrested
Social media users are promoting an unfounded claim linked to QAnon conspiracy theorists claiming that two prominent members of Congress were recently arrested.
At the heart of QAnon is the prediction that ‘The Storm’ will take place soon, the theory that a suspected mass arrest of high-ranking Democrats and celebrities will be carried out while President Donald Trump secretly saves the world from a satanic cult of pedophiles a cannibal. . The conspiracy theory has grown into a movement promoted by right-wing extremists. His devoted followers maintain other theories via the internet that they believe are somehow related to the main premise.
A contribution to the years-long conspiracy theory are posts on social media claiming that the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff, was arrested by the FBI at Los Angeles International Airport, and Nancy Pelosi, house chairman, “by the American Marshalls were intercepted and arrested “after leaving the Capitol.
Both claims are false.
“Adam Schiff was taken from LAX International Airport to the FBI building in Los Angeles and has not left since entering a little after 10:00 this morning,” my FBI source said, “a screenshot of a tweet shared by Facebook. page Millennial Conservative. The tweet was dated December 24th.
‘Last night, when Pelosi was leaving Congress, she was intercepted and arrested by the American Marshall (sic). Merry Christmas! ‘ read a Christmas message from Twitter, shared on Facebook.
Another message in which former Republican congressional candidate Mike Detmer is asked for facts in the situation, calls Schiff’s arrest a ‘Christmas miracle’.
Detmer, who lost in the Republican primary in Michigan for his eighth seat in the Congressional district, told the U.S. in an email today that he does not claim the arrest is true and that he is “seeking truth.” He referred to a tweet from QAnon’s lawyer Lin Wood and another tweet from someone who claims to be an eyewitness to the arrest.
USA TODAY contacted the other social media users who posted for the comment.
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Claims can be returned after false arrest
The claims appear to be from Twitter user Melanias Rhonda, who tweeted on Dec. 24 that she saw Schiff being escorted out of a terminal by airport police.
As alleged evidence of the arrest, Rhonda shared a link from an unofficial website called lacountyarrestrecords.org announcing ‘arrest records in LA’.
The site shows false arrests of Pelosi and Schiff, along with the government of California, Gavin Newsom, and many other politicians. A disclaimer at the bottom of the website states that none of the information is official. The website requires a monthly fee to access any information.
“This website is not affiliated with the U.S. Government or any state or federal government agency and is not an official source of information. It is a private website,” the indemnity states. “Information found on this site should only be used for legally acceptable purposes. It is against the law to stalk or harass anyone using the information found on this site. Visitors can not go to public officials , do not seek minors or celebrities. ”
The Los Angeles Police Department apparently does not have an official online database containing a list of recent arrests and incidents.
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No evidence of arrests
There is no evidence or reports in the media that Pelosi or Schiff have been arrested.
The Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association contacted shortly after the contact with the USA today about the allegations to explain that there is no record that Schiff was arrested by the airport police or LAPD.
A Los Angeles International Airport spokesman said TODAY, Dec. 26, that the airport has no reports of Schiff’s arrest. A Schiff spokesman also confirmed to the United States today that the allegation that he was arrested was false.
On December 25, Schiff shared a screenshot on Twitter of his Christmas Zoom call celebration with his family where he apparently is at home.
The House speaker was also active on Twitter on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Data from Pelosi’s press statements further indicates that she was in San Francisco for the December 22 holiday and was not in Washington, DC, where users allege the arrest took place.
USA TODAY reached out to Pelosi’s office, the FBI and the US Marshals Service for comment on the claims.
False QAnon claims that dr. Anthony Fauci was arrested, as well as false allegations that famous politicians and celebrities were under house arrest for child sex trafficking were earlier rejected by the US TODAY.
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Our rating: false
The claim that Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff were arrested is FALSE, based on our research. The claims come from an unofficial website showing fake arrests of politicians and celebrities. There is no evidence that there were any arrests.
Our sources for fact checking:
- lacountyarrestrecords.org
- @MelaniasRhonda, December 24th, Tweet
- USA TODAY phone call with Los Angeles International Airport spokesman
- Adam Schiff, December 25, Tweet
- Nancy Pelosi, December 24, Tweet
- Nancy Pelosi, December 25 Tweet
- USA TODAY, Sept. 22, Fact Check: False allegation that dr. Anthony Fauci arrested, used by doctors and out of context
- USA TODAY, June 18, Fact Check: Ellen, Oprah, many others are not under house arrest for sex trafficking in children
- Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association, December 26, Tweet
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