I posted links to the false claims of a conspiracy surrounding the death of Seth Rich on the Facebook page over the past few days:
How the Murder of a D.N.C. Staff Member Fueled Conspiracy Theories ? The New York Times
Gingrich spreads conspiracy theory about slain DNC staffer ? The Washington Post
Fox News has now retracted their story about it, leaving Sean Hannity with a drum to beat:
Source: Fox News Retracts Story Linking Murder of D.N.C. Aide to 2016 Presidential Campaign
Fox News on Tuesday retracted a story linking the murder of a Democratic National Committee staff member with the email hacks that aided President Trump?s campaign, effectively quashing a conspiracy theory that had taken hold across the right-wing news media.
It was a rare acknowledgment of error by the network. But it also underscored a schism between the network?s news-gathering operation and one of its biggest stars: the conservative commentator Sean Hannity, who has unapologetically promoted the theory and remained defiant on Tuesday.
Hannity said he ?retracts nothing?. The heavy play of the story was widely viewed as a way to detract from President Trump?s Russian tea party. The Fox piece cited unnamed sources in the original story and have admitted the following:
The article was not initially subjected to the high degree of editorial scrutiny we require for all our reporting. Upon appropriate review, the article was found not to meet those standards and has since been removed.
The NY Times piece mentioned that this is another break between the network and Sean Hannity, one of their major draws now that O?Reilly is gone. Will Hannity jump ship too as Fox seems to be cleaning up some of the garbage around their house? Hannity is a grade A whiner, just like his buddy in the White House, intent on claiming he?s the wronged party. Mary and Joel Rich wrote a piece for Washington Post begging the media to ?Stop Politicizing Our Son?s Murder?
We have seen no evidence, by any person at any time, that Seth?s murder had any connection to his job at the Democratic National Committee or his life in politics. Anyone who claims to have such evidence is either concealing it from us or lying.
With no evidence to support such a claim, and the parents saying stop, Mr. Hannity, you need to STFU. As Hannity responds that he?s ?doing his job?, we are bound to conclude his job includes promoting ridiculous speculation that misinforms and inflames certain social groups and hurts families.