Right Wing Myth-Busting

Do we really need to take time de-bunking a story as ridiculous as this? Unfortunately, not only did the story become popular in the right-wing blogosphere (becoming known as pizzagate therein), one right-wing conspiracy believer (and convicted substance abuser) actually showed up at the pizza parlor in question, rifle in hand, scaring patrons and workers and causing an extended standoff with police. Fortunately, although he did discharge his weapon, he surrendered and was arrested before anyone got hurt, but his actions are indicative of why stories like this actually are dangerous.

The basic details of this convoluted right-wing lie included allegations that the Comet Ping Pong Pizzeria in Washington, D.C. ran a pedophilia ring out of their basement (other stories said it was tunnels underneath the building), that Hillary Clinton was at the center of the ring, and that her campaign manager, John Podesta, indulged in satanic rituals. The story expanded to allege that nearby businesses also were involved in abusing children and that these businesses used pro-pedophilia symbolism in their advertisements and websites.

Suspect surrendering after finding no child abuse at Comet - image from cbsnews.com

These rumors were picked up and spread by bots (many located in the Czech Republic, Cyprus, and Vietnam) and soon the usual far-right spreaders of mis-information also were active participants. Alex Jones, known mainly for having claimed that the Sandy Hook school massacre was faked, said the following in a YouTube video posted on November 4, just days before the 2016 Presidential election:

"When I think about all the children Hillary Clinton has personally murdered and chopped up and raped, I have zero fear standing up against her." "Yeah, you heard me right. Hillary Clinton has personally murdered children. I just can't hold back the truth anymore." (These quotes provided by reporters Fisher, Cox, and Hermann in their Pizzagate summary article in the Washington Post.)

Soon, believers of these lies began online and phone harassment of the business owners. It escalated to include threats of violence and caused the merchants to approach Facebook and Twitter, asking that the lies about them be removed. The response? Block the harassing users. Gee, thanks, Facebook and Twitter.

In fact, there is no basement or tunnel(s) below Comet Ping Pong, there is no evidence of any relationship between the pizzeria and Hillary Clinton (a nearby bookstore that subsequently was targeted as a ring participant is partly owned by a former Clinton speechwriter), there is no history of illegal activities at Comet Ping Pong or the other accused businesses, John Podesta has eaten at the pizzeria but has no relationship with any of the owners, and the so-called pro-pedophilia symbolism included a slice of pizza, crescents, stars, and a heart logo that appeared on one restaurant's website as part of a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

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