>>22718102
Sorry about black bars as I just cut and pasted
Cont
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Helicopter Crash (2018):
A January 2018 helicopter crash in Newport Beach, killing three people including two Standard Hotel employees (Kimberly Watzman and Brian Reichelt), is cited as suspicious. Conspiracy theorists, including QAnon posts, suggest it was a cover-up of hotel-related crimes involving Schiff. Official reports attribute the crash to pilot error, with no link to Schiff or criminality.
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Anthony Bourdain’s Death:
Some versions allege Schiff was involved in the 2018 suicide of chef Anthony Bourdain, claiming Bourdain witnessed something incriminating at the hotel. This lacks any factual basis and appears to be an embellishment tying high-profile deaths to the narrative.
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QAnon Amplification:
The rumor gained traction through QAnon “drops” in early 2018, notably one linking Schiff to the hotel and the helicopter crash, implying he was “repaying a favor” or hiding evidence. Posts on X and forums like Reddit’s r/conspiracy have since kept it alive, often with vague or fabricated details (e.g., Schiff “caught with a young boy” or “settling sex crime cases”).
### Origins and Spread
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Timeline: The rumor surfaced prominently in 2018, coinciding with Schiff’s high-profile role in investigating Trump-Russia ties and the first Trump impeachment, making him a target for political opponents. QAnon latched onto his visibility, weaving the Standard Hotel into their broader “deep state” narrative.
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Catalysts: The 2009 chemical incident, the 2018 crash, and Buck’s arrest provided unrelated events that conspiracists stitched together. A 2017 photo of Schiff with his “little brother” from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program was also distorted to falsely suggest impropriety with a minor.
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Platforms: It spread via X, Reddit, and obscure blogs (e.g., “America’s Last Line of Defense”), often citing each other without primary sources. By 2020, Snopes and PolitiFact had debunked specific claims, like Schiff paying $7.6 million to silence a victim (from a satire site).
### Lack of Evidence
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Official Records: No court documents, police reports, or credible witnesses support the allegations. Schiff’s financial disclosures (filed annually under the Ethics in Government Act) show no unusual payments or settlements, and his ties to the hotel appear limited to its location in his district.
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Debunked Claims: The photo-based pedophilia rumor was disproven—David McMillan, now an adult, confirmed his mentorship with Schiff was positive. The helicopter crash was investigated by the NTSB with no conspiracy findings. Buck’s crimes, while real, have no proven link to Schiff beyond routine political donations.
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Hotel Context: The Standard Hotel’s West Hollywood location closed in 2021 amid financial struggles, not scandal, and its reputation as an elite hangout doesn’t substantiate criminal activity.
### Current Sentiment (March 7, 2025)
Posts on X as recent as February 28, 2025, show the rumor persists among some users, often tied to Schiff’s new role as a U.S. Senator (sworn in January 2025). Comments range from vague accusations (“What happened at the Standard Hotel?”) to explicit falsehoods (“Schiff caught with Ed Buck and a boy”). These reflect ongoing distrust from certain political factions, amplified by Schiff’s prominence, but remain anecdotal and unverified.
### Analysis
The rumor seems designed to smear Schiff rather than reflect reality, exploiting his public role and unrelated events to create a sensational narrative. It thrives on innuendo—combining the hotel’s glamorous image, Buck’s crimes, and Schiff’s proximity—without evidence to bridge the gaps. Fact-checking consistently finds it baseless, yet its endurance highlights how conspiracy theories can persist despite refutation, especially in polarized times.
If you’re curious about a specific angle (e.g., X posts or a particular claim), I can dig deeper with what’s available!