In 2016, Russian intelligence agents planted a fake report claiming that Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich was gunned. This led to a series of conspiracy theories, some planted by Russian intelligence operatives and promoted by allies of President Trump and the right. The death of Seth Rich brought incalculable loss to his parents, Joel and Mary Rich. Without real evidence, far-right activists peddled a conspiracy theory that posited Seth Rich leaked a trove of DNC emails to Wikileaks and was killed in retribution for the leak.
The murder of Seth Rich occurred on July 10, 2016, in Washington, DC, when he was shot and killed. Police say he was the victim of a botched robbery. His parents hoped the story would end with a criminal investigation that saw his killer. A businessman and a fringe internet activist played key roles in the conspiracy theory about Seth Rich, the slain Democratic Party aide.
The unsolved death of a Democratic Party operative became political when conspiracy theories took off on social media. A hard-nosed federal prosecutor was determined to figure out who killed the 27-year-old Democratic National Committee staffer. An investigator who worked on the Seth Rich case claims Fox News fabricated quotes implicating the murdered staffer.
A new book out this week from ProPublica journalist Andy Kroll contains revelations about the murder of Seth Rich and the spread of turbocharged right-wing conspiracy theories.
📹 This is why the Seth Rich conspiracy won’t disappear
CNN’s Tom Kludt explores the motivations behind the Seth Rich conspiracy, examines the lasting power of political conspiracies …
📹 Seth Rich Conspiracy Theory Analysis
In this video I cover some basic inconsistencies I see with the Seth Rich case. Please, watch the entire video, fact check …
“In the Dutch TV interview, Assange demurred on how he obtained the DNC emails, then dropped a tantalizing hint. “There’s a 27-year-old who works for the DNC who was shot in the back, murdered, just a few weeks ago, for unknown reasons as he was walking down the street in Washington.” “That was just a robbery, I believe, wasn’t it?” the host interjected. “No,” Assange said. “There’s no finding.” “What are you suggesting?” “I’m suggesting that our sources take risks,” Assange said, “and they become concerned to see things occurring like that.” Assange never said Rich’s name, but the implication was obvious: Rich was his source. WikiLeaks then announced a $20,000 reward on Twitter for information about Rich’s murder.”
“Hey, fellow kids! I’m a young hipstery kinda guy and not at all like those old, stiff CNN talking heads. You can believe me when I tell you that there’s nothing to see here with this Seth Rich story. You can trust me because I’m just like you. I have long hair and ironic glasses and don’t wear a tie like those squares Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon.”
– 2:40 Brad Bauman: “His job was not in any way shape or form related to IT.” – Wikipedia on Seth Rich: “In 2014 he began working for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) as the Voter Expansion Data Director. One of his tasks at the DNC was the development of a computer application to help voters locate polling stations.” – Wikipedia on IT: “Information technology (IT) is the application of computers to store, study, retrieve, transmit, and manipulate data, or information, often in the context of a business or other enterprise.”
It won’t disappear because of the following reasons: 1. He was a DNC staffer. 2. He was murdered. 3. It was ruled as an attempted robbery gone wrong yet nothing was taken after he was killed. 4. There is a private investigator onto this. 5. The PR person for Seths family was assigned to them by the DNC, the father has spoken out about this saying he didn’t want it. 6. The PR guy and Seth had an altercation many times, Seths father has admitted this and even Wikileaks showed this. 7. The Wikileaks document dump happened 12 days after he was murdered. 8. A friend of Assange said he received the documents on a school campus from a man inside the DNC who was unhappy with the cheating of Hillary over Bernie. 9. Wikileaks themselves placed a $20,000 reward into information regarding his death. 10. Assange bought his name up in a conversation about his informants about how they put their lives at risk then mentioned Seth. 11. Hannity interviewed Assange and he was adamant that it was not Russia he got the information from. 12. The private investigator has information from an FBI offical that his laptop contained the emails for Wikileaks. 13. The DNC PR guy refuted #12 saying it wasn’t true but of course he would considering it was the DNC that would be investigated. 14. The MSM that colluded with the DNC and buried the story and never aired it. As you can see, there are waaaaaay too many coincidences that prove this was not a random mugging. The man leaked information and as a low level DNC staffer, his death wouldn’t be all important.
Just a quick update. The FBI now admits they have the laptop and are asking a judge to not release the info for 60 years. Can you please update this article to share this update? Why does the FBI who first denied having the laptop now are unwilling to share what’s on it? All conspiracy theories aside, this is not what Americans expect from their law enforcement. We expect equal transparency, yet recently this has been a challenge.
The worst thing for a journalist to do is to dismiss a claim as just a “conspiracy”. If there is a claim, and even if it may be some crazy conspiracy theory, it is the journalist’s job to investigate deeper into it, and never rule out the possibility that it might be true, much less dismiss other people’s investigations and findings.
Here is what happened to Seth Rich the same day after his attempted death by GSW’s failed. Seth was taken to ER for treatment for the GSW’s that failed to kill him earlier that day. This hospital account was given by the 4 year resident who cared for him in the ER.. He said that Seths’ s GSW’s were totally non-fatal but did require surgery to repair the nick in the liver and the small bowel tear that was left in a colostomy to be closed later. He made it through the surgery fine and was given 2 units of packed red blood cells due to low blood count from loss of blood from the GSW’S and the surgery. The resident reports Seth was then moved to an ICU recovery room. His prognosis was excellent at that time and no fatal events were reported. If he had been allowed the normal postop course for what he had had done, he would have recovered. It was at this point the resident reports things started go awry.A pack of “law enforcement types” came in and shut the room down. The resident was removed from the case and no one was allowed in Seth’s room except the resident’s instructor and a couple of nurses. The resident left and then came ack on the next shift, where he was told Seth had died during the shift. He was stunned to find Seth had died becuse his post-op prognosis was excellent. He was also stunned to find that no “CODE BLUE” Had been called as is the normal procedure to alert all medicl personnel to report to that person’s room to assist in trying to save the person’s life. NO CODE BLUE WAS CALLED.
Those two guys who tried to murder Seth Rich, only did it in retribution. They were told to get a thumb drive he was carrying, but Seth had already passed the drive off a couple hours ago, so they couldn’t rob him of it, and that made them mad, so they shot him. His wounds were not serious. Some suits came into the hospital and took Seth away to, unfortunately, die.
How many people do you know that have “suicided” and been shot in the chest and hung from a tree.? It’s not a conspiracy theory anymore goof! And Hannity is not a conspiracy theorist anymore than I am. But it’s 2023 ans sorry to burst your bubble but it’s now proven there was never any Russian collusion by President Trump ! What we all knew is true. And been proven.
Undersolved MURDERS never are closed…how stupid is #CNN Seth Rich Arrived alive at hospital & Wounds were survivable…See: Pope John Paul, & Died in the care of ER DOC who just happens to be DEEPLY connected to Obama White House, visited 5+ (documented) Invited guest on (Seen copy Invitation) to #JohnPodesta Christmas party (Satanists & jews at Christmas party…the making of a good joke) Major DNC Donor & yep you know IT….Close friends of Clintons! Nothing suspicious here! Oh did you know Podesta’s sister in law (DCPD) rushed to crime scene & did you know that Donna Brazille & the MAYOR OF DC rushed to hospital minutes after Seth Rich arrival at ER! BY & BY; Only one person Returned to scene of the crime…That would be….Debbie Wasserman!
And now here we are in 2023 and we have proof that Russia and Trump weren’t in collision with each other, we have proof that the steal dossier was part of a Clinton campaign disinformation campaign against Trump…so far everything we believed about Clinton was right and we have come full circle with a Texas judge demanding the FBI hand over documents about their investigation on Seth Rich.
I mean this even seems disingenuous. I’m not American so have no horse in this race, but this is a clearly here to make people assume anyone who doesn’t think that this was a simple close case of a ‘botched robbery’ a crazed conspiracy theorist. It’s awful. Why are ALL news outlets in the US incessant on tribal politics? It’s exhausting and a terrible way. Literally it seems you have to side by every single thing that one party does and HATE every single thing the opposing party does – you want to make it a sport/war. It’s ridiculous and likely one of the best ways to stifle progression as a society – likely why America (and many other countries) have been spiralling into division over the last decade or so – lining the pockets of a very select few newscast owners.
It still a mystery to me. Consider the few who own the various media networks and types then explain why major media would do anything to prop up one party or the other..? Then explain how and why all the staff would knowingly contribute to the false narrative. It’s been going on since newspapers began.
Well, if we are gonna talk about idiotic conspiracy theories (and I’m down for that btw, we SHOULD be doubtful of stupid foe-centric tall tales), no matter the angle of party line. However, you lose every ounce of credibility when you dispell one myth, while actively spewing another. Bottom line, both sides need work. Both sides partake in their share of tag lines, conspiracy theories and corruption. Here’s how you’ll KNOW you need to re-think your political ideation: if you believe one side is benevolent, and the other side is evil, you probably drank WAY too much Kool-aid, and should probably back away from the table (or website). A healthy distrust of both sides? Now that’s a side I’m down with!
Hopefully when the truth is finally revealed about the death of Seth, I want all CNN viewers to rewatch this stupid article. To hear how strange it is, as to why CNN would try debunking something that is incredibly pointless to try debunking. I guess CNN is and expert in Seth’s case, and they better come forward with all the answers. I’d like to hear this guy go into the details of the Vince Foster case. He’d be so deep in unanswered questions it’d make his head spin.
Lol- this was the saddest “explanation” I’ve ever heard. There evidence of this being a “fake conspiracy” is them simply saying it is a conspiracy. The only thing close to them providing evidence was some random guys how this guys oevidence was saying Seth wouldn’t have access to this information but not explaining how he would know that… pathetic
Why why why would someone FIGHT so hard to NOT solve a murder? NO ONE can for sure say who killed him.That is why gathering all the facts is important.It looks very fishy when your trying to investigate a crime and your not only getting resistance but down right interference.Why would one bother if your not trying to hide something?
What was the caliber of the revolver? My father worked in law enforcement in Denver and preferred a 38 Special revolver as he considered it safer and more reliable than any semi-automatic. I know some police departments are now issuing Glocks to the street officers. I keep a 38 special revolver with a laser sight under my pillow and sleep with a dog that would wake me in the case of an intruder.. For conceal & carry, I use a .380 semi auto because it’s smaller and conceals more easily. The 38 special has more knock down power. That’s the reason it’s preferred by law enforcement.
it broke my heart were Seth said he buys water were ever he goes cause he didn’t trust any water source if not hand picked it so sad to have to live your life worrying some one is trying to poison you or kill u Seth knew they were after him,I just hope the low life that took his life pays for it in the worst way,trying to do the right thing shouldn’t get u killed at least the house is changing key positions maybe now a legitimateinvestigation can happen now
If the robber(s) were worried about time, they would have confronted him without shooting to give him a chance to give them what they want. Instead, they shot him which would have caused enough noise to alert people giving them even less time. Their target might be something other than an ordinary robbery. They may have robbed him. It might not be his own valuables they wanted. What if someone saw him download DNC files or something else incriminating and they followed and stole that object? It could have been what he used to download the information or a photograph or piece of paper with incriminating evidence. Great article by-the-way.
I apologize for ranting on your article I’m sure you mean well. I hope you get a diverse group of media sources for your news so you have a broad perspective . all news companies have their own agendas but if you get a broad perspective you can get a pretty clear picture. Thanks for the good conversation take care.
If it were one of my loved ones who were the victim of an unsolved murder, I’d want it on the front page of every paper or website in the country until his killer/s were brought to justice. They have entire TV shows where this is the topic and people beg to be featured to raise awareness about the crimes trying to capture their loved one’s abductors or murderers on the airwaves. Why is the family unhappy about this?
I watched your whole article .even though that comment turned me off.but watched anyway 1 comment will not sway me.I thought it was foolish not racist.more like stereotypical. You have valid points.I’m Roofer not a scholar.I sold weed not robbery .too much prison time and chances of death are high.and there are people who pray on drunks and loners.less chance of a viable witness.