RBG Death Conspiracy Theories From QAnon Encouraged By Sebastian Gorka

RBG death conspiracies spread from QAnon, via Gorka

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is alive and well, contrary to what Sebastian Gorka has suggested. Image by Getty/Forward Montage

By Ari Feldman February 1, 2019

Former White House advisor Sebastian Gorka is encouraging conspiracy theories that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is either dying or dead, the Daily Beast reported.

Ginsburg has cancelled public appearances since undergoing surgery to remove cancerous growths in her lungs.

The filmmakers behind the Oscar-nominated documentary “RBG” told CNN last week that they spoke with Ginsburg by phone, and that she sounded “sounded strong and cheerful” and was working on opinions for the court.

The theories reportedly originated in the online forums dedicated to the QAnon conspiracy theory, which holds that there is a “deep state” that controls the country. The theories began to spread across social media in the days leading up to President Donald Trump’s planned State of the Union speech on February 5.

“Still no sign,” Gorka wrote in his Twitter post.

Still no sign.

6 days left until Ruth Bader Ginsberg has to make her official appearance at @realDonaldTrump’s State of the Union. pic.twitter.com/zY1gSW54N6

— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) January 31, 2019

When reached for comment by the Daily Beast, Gorka responded, “go outside and lick a metal street lamp.”

The Forward broke the story in 2017 that Gorka was a sworn member of a Hungarian group with historic Nazi ties. Gorka has denied that he is anti-Semitic.

Fox News also fanned the flames of the theories last week when it accidentally broadcast a graphic claiming that Ginsburg was dead. Many pro-Trump and conspiracy-peddling social media figures have been tweeting with the hashtag #WheresRuth.

Ari Feldman is a staff writer at the Forward. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @aefeldman

Ari Feldman is a staff writer at the Forward. He covers Jewish religious organizations, synagogue life, anti-Semitism and the Orthodox world. If you have any tips, you can email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @aefeldman.

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