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U.S. NEWS Saturday 10 december 2016
Conspiracy theorists: ‘Pizzagate’ shooting just a false flag

BEN NUCKOLS based on Podesta’s and
Associated Press Alefantis’ tastes in art.
WASHINGTON (AP) — For Fetzer and other conspira-
conspiracy theorists, the bi- cy theorists seized on the
zarre rumors of “pizzagate” fact that Welch had dab-
didn’t end when a man bled in movie acting as a
brought a gun to a Wash- giveaway that his visit to
ington restaurant this week the restaurant was staged.
in a misguided attempt to Welch wrote a short film
rescue nonexistent child and appeared as a victim
sex slaves. Instead, the in a slasher movie along-
shooting sparked discus- side a friend, Kathy Sue
sion that the conspiracy Holtorf, who told the AP
runs deeper. that Welch “never wanted
On blogs, YouTube chan- to become an actor.”
nels and internet radio
shows devoted to con- Blogger Joachim Hagopi-
spiracy theories, the arrest an, a false-flag proponent,
of Edgar Maddison Welch told the AP that conspira-
on Sunday was just the lat- tors look for “a patsy or
est “false flag,” a term for a stooge” to pose as a lone
cover-up or distraction or- gunman with an assault
chestrated by the govern- rifle. Welch, he said, “fits
ment or other powerful fig- The front door of Comet Ping Pong pizza shop is seen in Washington, Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. For the pattern” with his acting
ures. The persistent belief in conspiracy theorists, “pizzagate” didn’t end when a man brought a gun to a Washington restaurant background.
the false-flag theory shows in a misguided attempt to rescue child sex slaves, instead, the shooting fired up further belief in “He’s got an IMDB (Internet
just how stubborn fabricat- the baseless claims. On blogs, YouTube channels and internet radio shows devoted to conspiracy Movie Database) profile,”
theories, some see Edgar Maddison Welch’s as the latest “false flag.” That’s a term for a cover-up
ed conspiracies can be, or distraction orchestrated by the government or other powerful figures. Hagopian said.
according to experts. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Conspiracy theorists have
According to police, made similar claims about
Welch drove to a restau- “There’s no doubt about it “Pizzagate” believers point scour Alefantis’ social-me- parents of the 20 children
rant called Comet Ping in my mind,” said Fetzer, a out references to pizza in dia posts and even his res- who were killed at Sandy
Pong to investigate the former philosophy profes- Podesta’s hacked emails, taurant’s menu for “code Hook in Newtown Con-
“pizzagate” rumors that sor and the founder of a which were published by words” and “symbols” that necticut, in 2012, calling
Hillary Clinton’s campaign group called Scholars for WikiLeaks, and Comet supposedly reference child them “crisis actors” pre-
chairman, John Podesta, 9/11 Truth. “You see, this is owner James Alefantis’ ties sexual abuse. They jump tending to grieve for non-
and other Washington in- part of the whole idea to to Democratic donors. They to incredible conclusions existent children. q
siders were harboring child smear the alternative me-
sex slaves there. Police said dia, which are putting out
Welch fired several shots in- so much more truth than
side the pizzeria on Sunday the mainstream.”
with a military-style rifle but Welch — a fitfully em-
surrendered peacefully af- ployed, 28-year-old father
ter he found no evidence of two from North Caro-
of a secret pedophilia ring. lina — is being held without
There’s no evidence to bail. He told The New York
back up the rumors about Times in a jailhouse inter-
the restaurant, a beloved view that he “just wanted
neighborhood institution to do some good and
in the wealthy enclave of went about it the wrong
Chevy Chase. In the past way.”
year, Comet employees Once a conspiracy theory
have reported a damaged gains traction, confronting
car, a stolen bag and on- true believers with facts
line harassment; otherwise, is pointless, said Michael
it’s never been the subject Barkun, a professor emeri-
of a police investigation. tus at Syracuse University’s
But to true believers, the Maxwell School and the
absence of proof is just an- author of “A Culture of
other sign of a conspiracy Conspiracy: Apocalyptic
and a well-orchestrated Visions in Contemporary
cover-up. America.” “When you get
James Fetzer, a longtime to conspiracy theories like
conspiracy theorist who this, they’re closed systems
also believes the Sandy of ideas,” Barkun said.
Hook school shooting was “They’re constructed in
a hoax, told The Associat- such a way that there isn’t
ed Press that Welch’s visit any evidence you can
to the pizzeria was staged present to someone who
to distract the public from believes them that will lead
the truth of the “pizzagate” a believer to change his or
allegations. her mind.”