Jack Posobiec
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John Michael Posobiec III (/pəˈsoʊbɪk/ pə-SOH-bik; born 1985) is an American alt-right[1][2][3] internet troll[4] and conspiracy theorist[5] known primarily for his controversial and pro-Donald Trump comments on Twitter. He has promoted fake news, including the debunked Pizzagate conspiracy theory that high-ranking Democratic Party officials were involved in a child sex ring.[6] He has been retweeted by Donald Trump.[7] He works for the pro-Trump channel One America News Network.[8]
Contents
1 Education and career
2 Recent political activities
2.1 Conspiracy theories, falsehoods, and unsubstantiated claims
2.2 Support for Donald Trump
2.3 Race relations
2.4 Gun violence
2.5 Other elections
2.6 Other activities
3 Personal life
4 References
Education and career
Posobiec was born and raised in Norristown, Pennsylvania to a family of Polish descent.[9][10] His parents were both Democrats.[4] He attended Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School[4] and then went to college at Temple University.[4] While at Temple he rebelled against his parents' political views, became the chairman of the Temple University College Republicans, and started a chapter of Students for Academic Freedom, an organization run by the David Horowitz Freedom Center.[4] He also did a summer internship for Sen. Rick Santorum and volunteered for Rep. Curt Weldon's unsuccessful reelection campaign in 2006.[4] He graduated with a double major in political science and broadcast journalism.[11]
After graduation Posobiec worked for the United States Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, China.[4] In 2008 he played a minor role in the film The Forbidden Kingdom.[10][4] He later worked for WPHT, a conservative talk radio station and later for the campaign of Steve Johnson in the 2010 Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial election.[4]
Posobiec is a lieutenant junior grade naval intelligence officer.[7] He served several tours in the Naval Reserves from 2010 to 2017, including a deployment at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.[10] In March 2017 Posobiec resigned from his Office of Naval Intelligence position, saying that his support for Trump led to a "toxic work environment". As of August 2017 his security clearance was suspended[7] and under review.[12]
Recent political activities
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Posobiec describes himself as a "Republican political operative".[13] He has called his recent work "reality journalism—part investigative, part activist, part commentary",[14][15] and has said: "I'm willing to break the fourth wall. I'm willing to walk into an anti-Trump march and start chanting anti-Clinton stuff—to make something happen, and then cover what happens."[11] Will Sommer, an editor at The Hill, has said Posobiec "make[s] stuff up, relentlessly", and that "there's no one at that level."[4]
Conspiracy theories, falsehoods, and unsubstantiated claims
Posobiec was one of the biggest promoters on social media of the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, which falsely claimed that high-ranking officials were involved in a child-sex ring centered at a Washington, D.C. pizzeria.[4] He live-streamed an investigation of the pizzeria and was asked to leave after attempting to broadcast a child's birthday party being held in a back room.[16] Posobiec later said he had always thought the Pizzagate theory was "stupid" and had filmed his visit to debunk it.[4]
In December 2016, Posobiec claimed without evidence that Disney had re-written scenes in the Star Wars movie Rogue One to add "Anti Trump scenes calling him a racist", and called for a boycott of the Star Wars franchise. Disney denied the allegations.[17]
Posobiec falsely said that at a United States Senate hearing on May 17, 2017, former FBI director James Comey "said under oath that Trump did not ask him to halt any investigation". The claim was later repeated by the conservative media, including in prominent outlets such as InfoWars and Rush Limbaugh.[15]
Posobiec promoted the discredited conspiracy theory that Seth Rich had leaked e-mails from the Democratic National Committee to WikiLeaks.[18]
Posobiec promoted a hoax that CNN had published and then deleted an article defending Bill Maher's use of a racial slur.[1>>2521938