All articles tagged with #false claim
An elderly man, George Zinn, was arrested after falsely claiming he shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk to hinder police response; Zinn also faces charges related to sexual exploitation of minors and obstruction of justice, while the actual suspect, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with murder and other serious crimes.
Jussie Smollett's conviction for falsely claiming to be the victim of a hate crime has been overturned. The actor, known for his role on the TV show 'Empire,' was previously found guilty of staging a racist and homophobic attack on himself in 2019. The decision to overturn the conviction marks a significant development in the high-profile legal case.
CNN fact-checked former President Donald Trump's false claims about New York Judge Juan Merchan, which were pushed on Fox News. Trump made the claims after leaving court on Monday, prompting CNN's Abby Phillip to fact-check Fox News' coverage.
Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee faced backlash after falsely claiming on social media that an "illegal alien" was involved in the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl celebration parade shooting, despite the individual in the photo not being one of the shooters. Two teenagers have been charged for the shooting, which left one dead and several injured. Burchett's claim has been corrected, and he has been criticized for promoting racism and circulating disinformation.
Joe Biden falsely claimed that he was at Ground Zero "the next day" after the 9/11 attacks, according to a fact check by CNN.
President Biden falsely claimed that he stood at Ground Zero in New York City viewing the damage from the 9/11 attacks just one day later, despite records showing he was in Washington, D.C. that day. C-SPAN coverage and Senate records confirm that Biden was in Washington, D.C. on September 12, 2001, participating in Senate proceedings and a joint resolution vote condemning the attacks. Biden's claim contradicts his own autobiography and a news report from that time. The White House did not respond to questions about his claim, and Biden's decision to give his speech in Alaska instead of visiting any attack sites has drawn scrutiny from 9/11 victims' families.
A fight broke out during the screening of Bollywood film Gadar 2 at a theater in Bareilly, India, causing panic and a stampede-like situation. Contrary to initial reports, the fight was not triggered by someone shouting anti-national slogans, but rather by intoxicated individuals. The police clarified that the false claim of someone being beaten up for chanting "Pakistan Zindabad" was spread on social media. Gadar 2 continues to dominate the box office, crossing Rs 200 crores in just a few days.
A woman who claimed to have won the $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot was accused of lying by the granddaughter of the store owner where the winning ticket was sold. The woman, who was captured on video crying with joy at the store, has yet to come forward as the actual winner. The store owner will receive a $1 million reward for selling the ticket. This incident follows a previous record-breaking Powerball jackpot won in California last year.
A new study published in Antiquity challenges the long-held belief that the illicit trade of artifacts is one of the top three most illicit trades in the world. The researchers argue that this claim is unfounded and has led to misdirected policies and harm to communities. The study highlights the lack of reliable data on the value of the illicit trade and emphasizes the need for evidence-based policymaking. The authors call for a shift in public understanding and presentation of the harms caused by artifact looting and trafficking, urging institutions to stop lazily repeating unsubstantiated claims and instead disseminate high-quality data and expert analysis.
Madonna's recent hospitalization in the ICU was due to a bacterial infection, not complications from a COVID-19 vaccination. False claims circulating on social media suggesting otherwise are incorrect, as bacterial infections are not listed as adverse effects of the COVID vaccine. Madonna has been a vocal supporter of vaccines, and critics are using her illness to spread misinformation.
Ohio Republican lawmaker, Dave Dobos, falsely claimed to have graduated from MIT, according to the university. Dobos, who attended MIT in the 1970s and 1980s but did not receive a degree, has stepped down from his position as vice chair of the Higher Education Committee in the Ohio House. Dobos had previously described himself as an MIT graduate on his campaign website and in his online biography. This is not the first time Dobos has faced scrutiny, as he previously failed to disclose over $1 million in outstanding debts while running for office.
A DNA test has proven that Julia Wendell, a Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann, is not the missing girl. Private detective Dr. Fia Johansson arranged for Julia to give samples in the US for detailed DNA tests, which established she is not Madeleine. Madeleine’s parents have issued a statement saying there is nothing to report at this time. Julia is also facing a nervous wait for the results of further health tests as doctors fear she may have leukemia.
President Biden falsely claimed that his new corporate minimum tax is the reason for the decline in the federal budget deficit in 2021 and 2022. The tax did not come into effect until January 1, 2023. Experts say the deficit fell in 2021 and 2022 primarily because of expiring pandemic spending, not Biden’s own policies, which had the net effect of worsening the deficit. Biden's claim is inaccurate and misleading.