Democratic 2020 contenders condemn Trump for spreading Epstein conspiracy theories

[webfact]

Democratic 2020 contenders condemn Trump for spreading Epstein conspiracy theories

By John Whitesides

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein appears in a photograph taken for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' sex offender registry March 28, 2017 and obtained by Reuters July 10, 2019. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services/Handout/File Photo via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contenders Beto O'Rourke and Cory Booker slammed U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday for promoting unfounded conspiracy theories about the apparent suicide of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in his New York jail cell.

 

After the death on Saturday of Epstein, a millionaire charged with sex trafficking who once counted Trump and former President Bill Clinton as friends, Trump retweeted a baseless claim from a conservative comedian that Clinton was involved in the death.

 

"This is another example of our president using this position of public trust to attack his political enemies with unfounded conspiracy theories," O'Rourke, a former congressman from Texas, said on CNN's State of the Union.

 

O'Rourke said Trump was trying to shift the public's focus away from last weekend's two deadly mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, which have led to new calls for gun restrictions and criticism of Trump's divisive anti-immigrant and racially charged rhetoric.

 

"He's changing the conversation, and if we allow him to do that then we will never be able to focus on the true problems, of which he is a part," O'Rourke said from his hometown of El Paso.

 

Booker, a U.S. senator from New Jersey, said Trump's retweet was "just more recklessness."

 

"He is giving life to not just conspiracy theories but really whipping people up into anger and worse against different people in this country," he said on CNN.

 

The FBI and the Department of Justice's Inspector General have opened investigations into the death of Epstein, who a source said had been taken off suicide watch. Last month, Epstein was found unconscious on the floor of his jail cell with marks on his neck, and officials were investigating that incident as a possible suicide or assault.

 

U.S. Attorney General William Barr said he was "appalled" to learn of the apparent suicide in federal custody. "Mr. Epstein's death raises serious questions that must be answered," Barr said in a statement on Saturday.

 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic congresswoman from New York City and a leading progressive voice, tweeted: "We need answers. Lots of them."

 

White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway said investigation of Epstein should continue despite his death.

 

"Jeffrey Epstein has done some very bad things over a number of years, so let's continue to investigate that," she said on Fox News Sunday. "I don't think that somebody's crimes and the accountability for that necessarily perish with them."

 

More than a decade ago, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of solicitation of prostitution from a minor in a deal with prosecutors that has been widely criticized as too lenient.

 

Then in July, Epstein was indicted, federal prosecutors in New York accusing him of knowingly recruiting underage women to engage in sex acts with him, sometimes over a period of years while paying the women for each encounter. He pleaded not guilty.

 

O'Rourke and Booker are among two dozen candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Trump for the White House in 2020. Nearly all of those Democrats have condemned Trump's incendiary rhetoric for inflaming racial tensions and anger.

 

"We've seen people's lives being threatened because this president whips up hatred. This is a very dangerous president that we have now," Booker said.

Trump had retweeted on Saturday a message from conservative comedian and commentator Terrence K. Williams, who said in part that Epstein "had information on Bill Clinton & now he's dead."

 

Clinton spokesman Angel Urena blasted Trump for making the suggestion. "Ridiculous, and of course not true - and Donald Trump knows it. Has he triggered the 25th Amendment yet?" he said, referring to the procedures for replacing the president in event of removal or incapacitation.

 

Trump has a history of promoting conspiracy theories about political rivals. Even before he was a presidential candidate, Trump repeatedly questioned whether former President Barack Obama was born in the United States, even after Obama produced a birth certificate proving that he was.

 

During the Republican presidential nomination race in 2016, Trump spread an unfounded conspiracy theory linking the father of rival U.S. Senator Ted Cruz to the assassination of former President John Kennedy, a claim Cruz denounced as a lie.

 

(Reporting by John Whitesides; Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Mary Milliken and Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-12

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[simple1]

O'Rourke and Booker are correct. The President of the USA again retweeting conspiracy theory is despicable. trump is unfit to represent the Office of the President of the USA.

Edited August 11, 2019 by simple1

[daoyai]

Trump is just trolling again... but the Clintons are linked to so many "suicides" and strange deaths... Robert O'rourk and Corney Booger are so low in the race they will say anything for attention. Aoc is as always ...the same.  Will we ever know who killed Jeff?  His former cellmate (a murderer) choked him out but didn't finish the contract.  Details are still sketchy, the "official narrative is still being written, the FBI will soon issue their report.... suicide undoubtedly.

[stevenl]

8 minutes ago, daoyai said:

Trump is just trolling again... but the Clintons are linked to so many "suicides" and strange deaths... Robert O'rourk and Corney Booger are so low in the race they will say anything for attention. Aoc is as always ...the same.  Will we ever know who killed Jeff?  His former cellmate (a murderer) choked him out but didn't finish the contract.  Details are still sketchy, the "official narrative is still being written, the FBI will soon issue their report.... suicide undoubtedly.

This is really, really low. So you find it ok that the US president accuses US citizens they are involved in the killing of someone. Even if he had the proof he should not do it, that would be up to the courts. But in this situation, someone needs to slap him, hard.

[TopDeadSenter]

Sorry but when it was warned over and over and over that "x" was about to happen, and it was dubbed a conspiracy theory and then lo and behold "x" actually happens. Well it's vindication. It was not a conspiracy theory but the team that was crying conspiracy theory to the warnings before "x" happened clearly had something to hide.

 This saga shows the swamp has not been sufficiently drained, even with Trump's gargantuan efforts with pulling the swamp plug. Looks like 4 more years required to get this foul corrupt undercurrent dealt with.

 Paul Joseph Watson is rightfully doing a victory lap today. Nobody is calling him a conspiracy theorist any more, he forecast this repeatedly and was bang on the money. Interesting times.

[DoctorG]

We often make fun of crimes in TH when the CTV is mysteriously not working. Same, same, but different?

[alanrchase]

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Sorry but when it was warned over and over and over that "x" was about to happen, and it was dubbed a conspiracy theory and then lo and behold "x" actually happens. Well it's vindication. It was not a conspiracy theory but the team that was crying conspiracy theory to the warnings before "x" happened clearly had something to hide.

 This saga shows the swamp has not been sufficiently drained, even with Trump's gargantuan efforts with pulling the swamp plug. Looks like 4 more years required to get this foul corrupt undercurrent dealt with.

 Paul Joseph Watson is rightfully doing a victory lap today. Nobody is calling him a conspiracy theorist any more, he forecast this repeatedly and was bang on the money. Interesting times.

So what you are saying is that the Trump administration failed to protect an American citizen in its care after it was warned that the citizen was in danger? A massive failure on the part of Trump.

[Beggar]

"Last month, Epstein was found unconscious on the floor of his jail cell with marks on his neck, and officials were investigating that incident as a possible suicide or assault." 

 

He had marks on his neck and was unconscious. Obviously there was no rope or anything else he used to achieve this. Forget Trump but here many things seem to be strange. And now the final suicide. Again no rope or anything else? Sleepy guards, no cameras, no other inmate in his cell. It is a scandal. 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Sorry but when it was warned over and over and over that "x" was about to happen, and it was dubbed a conspiracy theory and then lo and behold "x" actually happens. Well it's vindication. It was not a conspiracy theory but the team that was crying conspiracy theory to the warnings before "x" happened clearly had something to hide.

 This saga shows the swamp has not been sufficiently drained, even with Trump's gargantuan efforts with pulling the swamp plug. Looks like 4 more years required to get this foul corrupt undercurrent dealt with.

 Paul Joseph Watson is rightfully doing a victory lap today. Nobody is calling him a conspiracy theorist any more, he forecast this repeatedly and was bang on the money. Interesting times.

William Barr, the USAG recused himself from Epstein’s case and then reversed his recusal.

Fact.

 

We know he steps beyond the duties of his job to represent Trump against the department he runs.

Fact.

 

We know Trump’s name is recoded on along side that of Epstein in court documents alleging rape of a child.

Fact.

 

SDNY have recovered tapes and documents from Epstein’s safe.

Fact.

 

You are correct, the swamp needs draining.

 

SDNY have the evidence they need to pull the plug.

[Chomper Higgot]

33 minutes ago, alanrchase said:

So what you are saying is that the Trump administration failed to protect an American citizen in its care after it was warned that the citizen was in danger? A massive failure on the part of Trump.

Not simply the Trump administration, the USAG recused himself then reversed his recusal, he’s up to the neck in this.

[phkauf]

But it was ok for these guys to have been spreading fake conspiracy theories about Trump and the Russians for the past two years. 

Epstein's "suicide" is very, very convenient for the Clintons (similar to Vince Foster's "suicide"). Just Friday two former Clinton cabinet members were named as participants in Epstein's pedophilia ring. More than 20 trips on Epstein's plane by Bill, it is just a matter of time before the other shoe was going to drop on Clinton. 

[Jingthing]

But it was ok for these guys to have been spreading fake conspiracy theories about Trump and the Russians for the past two years. 

Epstein's "suicide" is very, very convenient for the Clintons (similar to Vince Foster's "suicide"). Just Friday two former Clinton cabinet members were named as participants in Epstein's pedophilia ring. More than 20 trips on Epstein's plane by Bill, it is just a matter of time before the other shoe was going to drop on Clinton. 

I don't think think linking "trump" to Russia was a conspiracy theory per se. Considering he asked Russia to leak stuff live on TV and then immediately they did. Also considering the massive evidence that Russia was working very hard to give the win to him.

 

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

46 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

William Barr, the USAG recused himself from Epstein’s case and then reversed his recusal.

Fact.

 

We know he steps beyond the duties of his job to represent Trump against the department he runs.

Fact.

 

We know Trump’s name is recoded on along side that of Epstein in court documents alleging rape of a child.

Fact.

 

SDNY have recovered tapes and documents from Epstein’s safe.

Fact.

 

You are correct, the swamp needs draining.

 

SDNY have the evidence they need to pull the plug.

Four nothingburgers does not a conviction make.  When the SDNY prosecutors start dying by suicide I'll get on board.

[TopDeadSenter]

1 hour ago, alanrchase said:

So what you are saying is that the Trump administration failed to protect an American citizen in its care after it was warned that the citizen was in danger? A massive failure on the part of Trump.

Yes, that is true. Trump is POTUS, the ultimate responsibility lies with him. But, I would say nobody wanted to unearth the Epstein co-offenders more than Trump did. There is no evidence or even hearsay that Trump played when there was no grass on the pitch, it's just not the way Trump rolls. Trump likes tarts and supermodels(don't we all!).

 Let's hope enough interviews were conducted with Epstein before his untimely demise to put alot of these pedo elitists away for ever. No matter if the are ex-Presidents or whoever.

 

[Paul Henry]

From the article from daoyai sounds like he is a good friend on first name basis with the low life Epstein. THe cauche of videos,photos and documents the FBI got from their raid will bring a lot of names under the spotlight maybe the conspiracy theorist in chief may not be out of the woods. Sorry forgot he doesn't really know him only met him once and didn't like him.

[Becker]

3 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

 This saga shows the swamp has not been sufficiently drained, even with Trump's gargantuan efforts with pulling the swamp plug.

Thanks, needed that!

Edited August 12, 2019 by Becker

[jb61]

It is just astonishing just how many "minds" Trump lives rent free in.

They just can't help themselves. Trump farts, they sniff. 

[jb61]

It's astonishing just how many "minds" Trump lives rent free in.

 

The haters just can't help themselves. Trump farts, they sniff. 

[Becker]

2 minutes ago, jb61 said:

It's astonishing just how many "minds" Trump lives rent free in.

 

The haters just can't help themselves. Trump farts, they sniff. 

Trump doesn't need to fart to stink.

[jb61]

Here is a perfect example. You gotta feel sorry for them. 

Trump owned.

Edited August 12, 2019 by jb61

[bristolboy]

14 minutes ago, jb61 said:

It is just astonishing just how many "minds" Trump lives rent free in.

They just can't help themselves. Trump farts, they sniff. 

To Trump supporters those farts are pure perfume.

[Becker]

4 minutes ago, jb61 said:

Here is a perfect example. You gotta feel sorry for them. 

Trump owned.

Yet perfectly able to let infantile slights go and thus totally different from the man-child in the WH.

[Krataiboy]

2 hours ago, alanrchase said:

So what you are saying is that the Trump administration failed to protect an American citizen in its care after it was warned that the citizen was in danger? A massive failure on the part of Trump.

Yeah, and I had a fly in my soup the other day, and since it's the administration's job to protect the public, it's Trump's fault?

 

Give us a break.

 

 

 

[Thingamabob]

Clinton in this up to his neck. 

[Sir Swagman]

[bristolboy]

 

 

17 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Yeah, and I had a fly in my soup the other day, and since it's the administration's job to protect the public, it's Trump's fault?

 

Give us a break.

 

 

 

Does the Attorney General have the authority to police that kitchen where that soup was made? Was that fly poisonous? If not, then your analogy is ridiculous.

[Krataiboy]

Just now, bristolboy said:

 

 

Does the Attorney General have the authority to police that kitchen where that soup was made? Was that fly poisonous? If not, then your analogy is ridiculous.

Not ridiculous at all. The government's primary responsibility is the safety and security of its citizens, whether by protecting them from committing suicide or being murdered in police custody or suffering food poisoning from contaminated food at a restaurant.

 

Using the original poster's "logic", any failure of this system is ultimately the President's personal responsibility.

 

Duh.

[Basil B]

3 hours ago, phkauf said:

Epstein's "suicide" is very, very convenient for the Clintons

Also for many of the Trump clan named in his black book...

[Nigel Garvie]

5 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

 

 This saga shows the swamp has not been sufficiently drained, even with Trump's gargantuan efforts with pulling the swamp plug. Looks like 4 more years required to get this foul corrupt undercurrent dealt with.

 

The problem is that it is rather difficult to pull the plug on yourself. 

Trump is the swamp. 

Trump is the foul corrupt undercurrent.

Trump's mind and business affairs are like a cesspit, and like the Mariana trench it runs so deep that no one can find where it stops.

[Tagged]

4 hours ago, DoctorG said:

We often make fun of crimes in TH when the CTV is mysteriously not working. Same, same, but different?

The best plot would have been making it happen, and then on top of that point at the Clintons ????