Newt Gingrich Spews Conspiracy Theories About Seth Rich Murder
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
By Dave Goldiner May 21, 2017
Newt Gingrich parroted far right wing conspiracy theories about the unsolved murder of Democratic staffer Seth Rich — as allies of President Trump sought to use the puzzling case to shift attention from the burgeoning investigation of potential ties to Russia.
Without offering any evidence, the GOP mouthpiece told Fox News that Rich was “assassinated” after he became disillusioned with the Democrats and sent thousands of emails to Wikileaks.
“This young man … was assassinated at 4 in the morning, having given WikiLeaks something like 53,000 emails and 17,000 attachments,” Gingrich said. “Nobody’s investigating that, and what does that tell you about what’s going on?”
Gingrich’s broadside appears to be part of a wider GOP campaign to use the Rich murder to suggest that Trump’s campaign was in no way responsible for the Russian hack of the Democratic National Committee.
Special counsel Robert Mueller is now investigating whether Trump or any of his associates colluded with the Russians or obstructed other probes into those allegations.
“(Rich) was disgusted by the corruption of the Democratic National Committee,” Gingrich said. “He’s been killed, and apparently nothing serious has been done to investigative his murder.”
Rich’s parents have denounced the conspiracy theories surrounding his murder near his Washington D.C. home last July.
Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
