Embattled Connecticut Republican lawmaker apologizes over QAnon car sticker

HARTFORD — An embattled Republican state senator is now apologizing for his association with QAnon — two weeks after becoming embroiled in controversy over a car windshield decal that represents the conspiracy movement.

Sen. Eric Berthel, who is seeking reelection in the 32nd Senate District, said it was “wrong” and he is "deeply sorry to anyone who has been offended'' over the issue. He says he didn’t completely understand the beliefs of QAnon and apologized for his “failure to look into the movement more deeply.”

“At the time of placing the sticker on my car, I understood the QAnon movement stood for stopping corruption in politics, holding government accountable and protecting individual freedoms — all of which are values I strongly believe in,” Berthel said in a statement. “My failure to look into the movement more deeply, which I take full responsibility for, led me to overlook the extreme views of the movement which I don’t subscribe to and find abhorrent. It was my lack of fully understanding this movement that led me to put these words on my car for which I deeply regret. The sticker does not represent who I am as a person and public servant. I believe a person’s character is best judged on how they treat others, and my record speaks for itself.”

Berthel has declined interview requests in recent days. When asked for comment this week after criticism from a fellow GOP lawmaker, the Senate Republican office responded with a defense of Berthel by Senate Republican leader Len Fasano of North Haven.

https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-sen-berthel-apologizes-qanon-20200925-bqcjim2ll5fz5ikrqzgor7srn4-story.html

QAnon 101: What you need to know about the conspiracy theory

The main thing to know about QAnon is that it's a wide-ranging conspiracy theory with no basis in reality.

If you have noticed a sudden increase in social media posts with the #SaveTheChildren or #SaveOurChildren hashtags, it may be related to QAnon's spread on social media. To be clear, QAnon is NOT related in any way to the 101-year-old, highly respected humanitarian organization Save The Children.

Recently QAnon has gained more attention because some mainstream politicians, including a Georgia congressional candidate, Marjorie Taylor Green, support it. Several "Save the Children" rallies have been held in real life, such as one in Spokane, Washington in August and another in July in Hollywood, according to NBC News.

But what is QAnon? How is child trafficking involved? Is there a Q?

What is QAnon?

QAnon followers believe that a secret “cabal” of powerful people control the world, according to Jared Holt, an investigative reporter with Right Wing Watch. While this shadow network might influence wars, terrorism and even the spread of COVID-19, followers are particularly worried about its role in child trafficking.

QAnon followers believe that President Donald Trump is engaged in a secret war against a cabal of Satanist child abusers in government, entertainment and the media.

“The fantasy here is a violent one,” Holt said. “Believers think that President Trump is going to send (the cabal) to (Guantanamo Bay detention camp) or execute them publicly.”

Many hear QAnon’s predictions and theories and think they’re ridiculous.

“The claims of Q, ultimately, they don’t make any sense,” Holt said. “They’re not based in reality.”

https://news.yahoo.com/qanon-101-know-conspiracy-theory-154600109.html

Alien Invasion Latest 2020 Threat As UFO Sightings Shoot Up In NY

NEW YORK CITY – Add War of the Worlds to everything else 2020 is throwing at New York.

Skygazers have reported a huge increase of unidentified flying objects seen in the state - already, 184 unexplained flying crafts or lights seen in the state have been logged with the National UFO Reporting Center.

In almost all of 2019, only 151 were seen.

The sightings include bright lights, strange sounds and oddly shaped objects. A person in Staten Island gave a terrifying description of a burning sensation following a sighting.

"And that's when I felt this heat like feeling going through my body," they reported.

"Starting at my head, like some sort of radiation. Burning me like frying me. And that's when I realized it was the craft."

Others were less disturbing.

"We were on a rooftop viewing the Persiuds when the glowing green ufo passed directly overhead at a low altitude, followed by what sounded like a military aircraft," said one.

"The green lights were revolving in a figure eight as the craft moved quickly From east to west towards Manhattan. The military Aircraft that appeared to follow it was very loud."

Nationwide, there have been thousands of witness accounts of UFOs submitted to the center.

https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/alien-invasion-latest-2020-threat-ufo-sightings-shoot-ny