The death of Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell’s condition have sparked a wave of conspiracy theories in the US
Following the sudden death of US Senator Lindsey Graham, numerous conspiracy theories began to circulate on social media. Without any evidence, users put forward various theories, linking his death to the actions of foreign states or other popular subjects of conspiracy theories, writes The Guardian.
The preliminary conclusion of the forensic pathologist indicates that the cause of death was an aortic dissection.
US President Donald Trump stated that he saw no reason to believe the senator’s death was the result of criminal activity. According to him, Lindsey Graham had heart problems, and an aortic dissection is difficult to detect in advance. Commenting on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s involvement in the case, Trump said he was unsure why the agency was working on the ground, adding: “I know there are all sorts of conspiracy theories. I think the FBI is wasting its time.”
The publication notes that the spread of rumours on social media often accompanies significant political events, particularly when it comes to the death or health of well-known politicians.
Users’ attention was also drawn to Senator Mitch McConnell’s prolonged absence from public view. After he stopped appearing in public in mid-June, unconfirmed claims about his death began to circulate online. The publication notes that the senator’s office had for some time failed to provide detailed information about the reasons for his absence.
Subsequently, McConnell’s office released a photograph of the senator with his wife, in which he is holding a copy of the Sunday edition of The Washington Post. This was followed by new speculation that the image had allegedly been created using artificial intelligence or was an old photograph.
The Washington Post analysed the photograph and its metadata and reported that it had found no evidence of tampering. Despite this, claims that the image was artificially generated continued to circulate.
Mitch McConnell later revealed that he had suffered a fall, been hospitalised, and had a mild case of pneumonia.
Joseph Uszczynski, a professor of political science at the University of Miami who researches conspiracy theories, noted that his research and surveys do not indicate a rise in people’s belief in such claims. According to him, social media merely makes such discussions more visible.
Following Lindsey Graham’s death, his recent trip to Ukraine – where he appeared in public without any visible health issues – sparked further debate. This was one of the reasons behind calls from certain politicians and commentators for a full toxicological investigation.
The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kash Patel, stated that the agency is assisting the local authorities and has provided all necessary resources following the senator’s death.
Lindsey Graham’s office announced that the final cause of death would be stated on the death certificate once the toxicological and microscopic examinations had been completed.
Senator John Cornyn said he supports the publication of the toxicology test results to dispel any doubts regarding the circumstances of the death. At the same time, the article emphasises that no evidence has been presented to support claims of a violent death or the falsification of information regarding Mitch McConnell’s condition.
