Trump alleges plane of 'thugs' being probed, but other officials cannot confirm it

By Mark Hosenball, Jeff Mason and Sarah N. Lynch

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump responds to questions from members of the news media during a news conference at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 31, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said an investigation was under way into alleged "thugs" who boarded a plane seeking to cause damage last week during his Republican Party convention, but U.S. security officials said they could not confirm such an incident.

 

Officials familiar with law enforcement investigations also expressed puzzlement at assertions by acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf about political movements playing a role. They stressed that law enforcement agencies had not charged any political groups or operatives with fomenting violent protests.

 

In a Fox News interview late on Monday, Trump made cryptic claims about armed thugs he said had boarded an airplane seeking trouble. Asked for details, Trump said: "I'll tell you sometime, but it's under investigation right now."

 

On Tuesday, Trump told reporters that it was something told to him by an individual on the flight. Trump would not identify the person.

 

Asked to comment, White House spokeswoman Sarah Matthews did not address Trump's specific assertions but said he was referring to an investigation into possible financial backers of "organized riots."

 

The president, seeking re-election on a promise to restore "law and order," told Fox News the plane was "completely loaded with thugs wearing these dark uniforms, black uniforms with gear and this and that" adding: "Here were like seven people on the plane like this person and then a lot of people were on the plane to do big damage."

 

Trump, who trails Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in national opinion polls, first told Fox News the flight involved someone "coming to the Republican National Convention," and later told reporters the plane departed from Washington. The Republicans last week held convention events in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Washington.

 

The president also did not specify a date for such an incident, detail what gear the individuals were carrying or say whether anyone was arrested or charged.

 

His assertion was similar to rumors posted on Facebook that NBC reported https://nbcnews.to/2YQUPHN began circulating in June about men dressed in black disembarking on planes in Idaho. Local officials at the time said the rumors were untrue.

 

Law enforcement, intelligence and Congressional officials familiar with official reporting on weeks of protests and related arrests said on Tuesday they were aware of no incidents or reports that would confirm Trump's anecdote.

 

In a separate Fox News interview on Monday, Acting Homeland Security chief Wolf said the U.S. Justice Department was investigating individuals who were paying others to travel around the country to take part in protests.

 

Wolf suggested the probe extended to leaders of Black Lives Matter (BLM) and antifa, a largely unstructured, far-left movement whose followers broadly aim to confront those they view as authoritarian or racist.

 

"We have seen groups and individuals move from Portland to other parts of the country," Wolf told Fox News on Monday. "The Department of Justice is also targeting and investigating the head of these organizations, the individuals that are paying for these individuals to move across the country," Wolf added.

 

But the Justice Department did not specifically confirm BLM and antifa leaders were being investigated. Instead, spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said the department was investigating violence, including against law enforcement and government property. She said it was not looking into any First Amendment activity, a reference to free speech guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

 

Two federal law enforcement officials said the FBI was pursuing numerous criminal investigations related to the protests but not looking at any specific organization’s role in allegedly stoking violence.

 

(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Mark Hosenball and Sarah Lynch; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-02

 

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"On Tuesday, Trump told reporters that it was something told to him by an individual on the flight. Trump would not identify the person."

 

Does he actually take commercial flights and sit with the public?

 

 

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

rump made cryptic claims about armed thugs he said had boarded an airplane seeking trouble.

we already knew this guy was delusional , now add 'paranoid'

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

"completely loaded with thugs wearing these dark uniforms, black uniforms with gear and this and that" adding: "Here were like seven people on the plane like this person and then a lot of people were on the plane to do big damage."

Well, that's about as clear and concise as he gets! Your redneck supporters will believe you Donald, they seem to believe ALL your BS!

Hummm.......how did thease thugs get past security at the airport lol just trump gas lighting more bs

16 minutes ago, scorecard said:

"On Tuesday, Trump told reporters that it was something told to him by an individual on the flight. Trump would not identify the person."

 

Does he actually take commercial flights and sit with the public?

 

 

I suggest you read it a few times to understand that Trump was not on the plane himself.

26 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I suggest you read it a few times to understand that Trump was not on the plane himself.

I saw the interview, it was as clear an indication as I’ve seen that his head isn’t on this planet.

 

Armed thugs boarding flights - utter nonsense.

 

He’s away with the fairies.

 

 

Edited September 2, 20205 yr by Chomper Higgot

Off-topic post reported and removed.  

 

I believe him, these "Thugs" have been seen before.

 

 

 

Trump catering to his conspiracy theory loving base.

Take other one potus and close tv!

 

 

 

"In a Fox News interview late on Monday, Trump made cryptic claims about armed thugs he said had boarded an airplane...."

 

Maybe 19 years ago but today.....in the US? Only Trumps most blinkered supporters would find this BS remotely credible.

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

2 hours ago, webfact said:

rump made cryptic claims about armed thugs he said had boarded an airplane seeking trouble.

we already knew this guy was delusional , now add 'paranoid'

We already knew this guy was delusional and paranoid.  Add stupid beyond words. 

They're aliens Donald. Come down to mess with the election.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S. President Donald Trump said an investigation was under way into alleged "thugs" who boarded a plane seeking to cause damage last week during his Republican Party convention, but U.S. security officials said they could not confirm such an incident

because it didn’t happen. 

3 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

They're aliens Donald. Come down to mess with the election.

Surely not, no need to attend, just send it in the mail!

3 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

because it didn’t happen. 

Great to see all of trump's supporters here in Thailand, leaping to his defence.

7 minutes ago, gazza4 said:

Great to see all of trump's supporters here in Thailand, leaping to his defence.

My guess, older uneducated white men

7 minutes ago, jumbo said:

My guess, older uneducated white men

You managed to get sexism, ageism , racism and stereotyping all into that one short sentence

8 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

You managed to get sexism, ageism , racism and stereotyping all into that one short sentence

trump's everywords everyday, confirm your point perfectly. Many thanks.

It's BS, another distraction. Remember birther thing? "I have people in Hawaii and it's unbelievable what they're finding." Only true part in that sentence was "unbelievable".

 "I heard"... "I was told..." "from a certain city"... which one? "It's under investigation..." so can't tell? Puh leeze

And maybe a plane load, or maybe 7.... he said flying to DC and then same story but flying from DC. I get that it is hard to keep story straight. Like Mark Twain said "Tell the truth. You have less to remember."

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Asked for details, Trump said: "I'll tell you sometime, but it's under investigation right now."

Guess that will be at the same time as he will release his tax returns.

Fake news FROM Trump.

regards worgeordie

1 minute ago, worgeordie said:

Fake news FROM Trump.

regards worgeordie

No, its an investigation to decipher the facts on hearsay

So a group of people dressed in black and carrying arms has been able to go through security controls and allowed to board a plane! ????

 

"Chief steward speaking! Please put your rifle in the overhead compartment or under your seat" ????????????????

29 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

31 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Fake news FROM Trump.

regards worgeordie

No, its an investigation to decipher the facts on hearsay

Let's be clear, there is no investigation. 

He has to wait until after the election to restore "law and order".  Can't be done until then!

"Thugs on a plane."

 

Paging Samuel L. Jackson.

 

 

Trump's 'plane loaded with thugs' conspiracy theory matches months-old rumor

 

The conspiracy theory that President Donald Trump pushed Monday that a plane “almost completely loaded with thugs” had been set to disrupt the Republican National Convention was almost identical to a rumor that went viral on Facebook three months ago.

Evidence-free social media posts about groups of people coming to terrorize suburbs have thrived in recent months, inspiring some people to arm themselves.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-s-plane-loaded-thugs-rumor-matches-months-old-facebook-n1238962

 

Suspect the "guy he knows" is James Woods?

 

Seriously, trump doubled-down on this claim:

 

 

52 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

Let's be clear, there is no investigation. 

It says that there is an investigation in the news report in the OP

3 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

It says that there is an investigation in the news report in the OP

Trump said it!