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Trump aide Michael Flynn Jnr out after 'Pizzagate' tweets | Trump aide Michael Flynn Jnr out after 'Pizzagate' tweets |
(about 17 hours later) | |
One of Donald Trump's aides has lost his job after fanning a conspiracy theory that climaxed at the weekend in gunfire at a pizzeria. | One of Donald Trump's aides has lost his job after fanning a conspiracy theory that climaxed at the weekend in gunfire at a pizzeria. |
Michael Flynn, 33, left the US president-elect's transition team on Tuesday following his tweets about the so-called Pizzagate fake news story. | Michael Flynn, 33, left the US president-elect's transition team on Tuesday following his tweets about the so-called Pizzagate fake news story. |
His father, Michael Flynn Snr, Mr Trump's pick to be US national security adviser, has also shared viral hoaxes. | |
The Pizzagate claims led to a gunman firing shots in a restaurant on Sunday. | |
No one was injured in the incident at Comet Ping Pong in Washington DC. | No one was injured in the incident at Comet Ping Pong in Washington DC. |
The suspect told police he had turned up to "self-investigate" online rumour-mongering that the pizzeria was the nexus of a paedophile ring involving Hillary Clinton and one of her aides, John Podesta. | The suspect told police he had turned up to "self-investigate" online rumour-mongering that the pizzeria was the nexus of a paedophile ring involving Hillary Clinton and one of her aides, John Podesta. |
The bizarre and unfounded theory had been spread online by right-wing blogs. | The bizarre and unfounded theory had been spread online by right-wing blogs. |
The claims were also pushed by Mr Flynn Jr, who tweeted after Sunday's gunfire that Pizzagate would remain a story until "proven to be false". | The claims were also pushed by Mr Flynn Jr, who tweeted after Sunday's gunfire that Pizzagate would remain a story until "proven to be false". |
The New York Times reports that he was fired from the Trump transition team on Tuesday but, according to CBS News, he resigned before he was sacked. | The New York Times reports that he was fired from the Trump transition team on Tuesday but, according to CBS News, he resigned before he was sacked. |
The Trump team confirmed the departure of Mr Flynn - who had reportedly been given a .gov email address - but did not confirm it was related to the tweets. | The Trump team confirmed the departure of Mr Flynn - who had reportedly been given a .gov email address - but did not confirm it was related to the tweets. |
Vice President-elect Mike Pence acknowledged that Mr Flynn Jnr had been helping his father with scheduling and administrative items during the transition but said "that's no longer the case". | Vice President-elect Mike Pence acknowledged that Mr Flynn Jnr had been helping his father with scheduling and administrative items during the transition but said "that's no longer the case". |
Asked repeatedly whether a security clearance was requested, Mr Pence refused to answer directly. | Asked repeatedly whether a security clearance was requested, Mr Pence refused to answer directly. |
Mr Flynn Snr, 57, has also tweeted out unsubstantiated conspiracy theories accusing Mrs Clinton and her aides of child-sex trafficking. | Mr Flynn Snr, 57, has also tweeted out unsubstantiated conspiracy theories accusing Mrs Clinton and her aides of child-sex trafficking. |
Among the retired lieutenant general's other tweets was an allegation that President Barack Obama was a "jihadi" who "laundered" money for terrorists. | Among the retired lieutenant general's other tweets was an allegation that President Barack Obama was a "jihadi" who "laundered" money for terrorists. |
Critics have said Mr Flynn Snr is unfit to advise the incoming president on the veracity of national security threats facing the US. | Critics have said Mr Flynn Snr is unfit to advise the incoming president on the veracity of national security threats facing the US. |
In Sunday's armed confrontation, the suspect allegedly walked into Comet Ping Pong and pointed a rifle at an employee before firing shots into the ground. | In Sunday's armed confrontation, the suspect allegedly walked into Comet Ping Pong and pointed a rifle at an employee before firing shots into the ground. |
Edgar Maddison Welch, 28, from North Carolina, has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. | Edgar Maddison Welch, 28, from North Carolina, has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. |
The Pizzagate theory originated on alternative message board 4chan, based on emails hacked from the Democratic Party and leaked by Wikileaks. | The Pizzagate theory originated on alternative message board 4chan, based on emails hacked from the Democratic Party and leaked by Wikileaks. |
The restaurant's owner, James Alefantis, a Democratic Party donor, appears in the emails in relation to organising a Democratic fundraiser. | The restaurant's owner, James Alefantis, a Democratic Party donor, appears in the emails in relation to organising a Democratic fundraiser. |
Users of 4chan and another message board, Reddit, had said words in the emails such as cheese, hot dog, and pizza were code for young children and sex acts. | Users of 4chan and another message board, Reddit, had said words in the emails such as cheese, hot dog, and pizza were code for young children and sex acts. |