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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsConspiracy Nutjob Alex Jones Apologizes for Spreading Pizzagate Fake News
By Daniel Politi at Slate
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/03/25/conspiracy_theorist_alex_jones_apologizes_for_spreading_pizzagate_fake_news.html?utm_content=inf_11_2641_2&wpsrc=socialedge&tse_id=INF_f896554011a411e7af245d7f4020bc76
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It was a rare sight. A media personality who has made his name by spreading patently false information and crackpot conspiracy theories, apologized for one of his favorite fake news items. Alex Jones of Infowars posted a surprising six-minute video on his website in which he read a legal-sounding document apologizing for his role in spreading claims that a Washington pizzeria was home to a child sex-trafficking ring run by Hillary Clinton and her campaign manager, John Podesta. Jones specifically addressed his apology to James Alefantis, the owner of Comet Ping Pong, which was thrust into the spotlight last year with what became the most stark example of how fake news spread during the presidential campaign.
In our commentary about what had become known as Pizzagate, I made comments about Mr. Alefantis that in hindsight I regret, and for which I apologize to him, Jones said.
Despite the apology, Jones still distanced himself from the fake news, making it sound as though he was a victim of false information rather than one of the main people responsible for spreading the falsehoods. We were participating in a discussion that was being written about by scores of media outlets, in one of the most hotly contested and disputed political environments our country has ever seen, Jones said. We relied on third party accounts of alleged activities and conduct at the restaurant. We also relied on accounts of reporters who are no longer with us. This was an ever-evolving story, which had a huge amount of commentary about it across many media outlets.
Although it isnt clear what motivated Jones to apologize now, fear of legal action may have come into play. Alefantis wrote Jones a letter in February demanding an apology. And even though he doesnt threaten legal action, under state law Jones had one month to retract or apologize to avoid a lawsuit. The month deadline was Friday.
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applegrove
(118,874 posts)got hurt, but because it could be linked to him.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,064 posts)If he had not apologized and disavowed it, then he would be sued.
Notice, no apology to Democrats smeared by his shite.
Runningdawg
(4,527 posts)he apologized to the owner of the pizza place, for linking to his name and business, before he could sue his ass. It was as weak as 45's apology over the birther BS.
LOL Lib
(1,462 posts)He needs to crawl under a rock and die. Hannity and that dickhead oreilly too!
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)The same asshole who has his knuckledragging bottomfeeder listeners harassing the parents of murdered six year olds because "NEWTOWN WAS FAKED HURR DURRRR"
Words cannot express my contempt for that shithead.
applegrove
(118,874 posts)they have figured out how to cooperate with each other to ruin reality and then the world.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)the good news is, I think we have better shamans on our side, frankly.
applegrove
(118,874 posts)There is such a thing as discernable reality and it is made up of multiple realities.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)and meaningless in some sense.
Arguably.
On the point at hand, though, I think the rapidity with which the wheels have come off the Trump bus indicates they don't really know what they're doing.
I hope.
applegrove
(118,874 posts)Doubt either faction that controls Trump will learn that lesson this time.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Bigly.
applegrove
(118,874 posts)by bit the GOP base sees it. Some have awoken. There is a bewilderment phase when you realize you have been a pawn. Then comes anger. After that the desire to reconnect to a wider, saner, safer world. May many voters in the US be on that journey sooner rather than later. Certainly the MSM is saying it is a con now. Comedians have always been saying it but are now getting more viewers as some voters get to the reconnecting to a saner safer world phase. May it keep up. And people realize it is not just Trump but Ryan and company too. We are lucky it turned so quickly. Many have been doing double and triple duty to make it happen.