Seth Rich’s Brother Sues Right-Wing Activists For Spreading Conspiracy Theories
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
The brother of slain Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against conservative activists and media organizations who allegedly spread conspiracy theories about his death, CNN reported.
Seth Rich was shot to death in D.C. last July in what police believed to be a robbery. Right-wing individuals and groups suggested without evidence that Rich had leaked DNC emails to Wikileaks and was killed in response. The theory appealed to some on the far-right as they disputed allegations that Russia hacked the DNC to help the Trump campaign.
Aaron Rich is suing The Washington Times, America First Media and two individuals — businessman Ed Butowsky and activist Matt Couch — for damages to his reputation after they allegedly suggested that he played a role in his brother’s supposed email theft.
Seth Rich’s parents sued Fox News in March for the network’s alleged role in promoting the conspiracy theory.
Contact Haley Cohen at [email protected]
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
