When the Pizzagate conspiracy theory was being promoted online in 2016, one of the far-right extremists who believed it was Edgar Maddison Welch.
Now, nine years after 2016 presidential race, Welch has, according to the Arizona Republic, died after being shot by police during a traffic stop in North Carolina.
The Arizona Republic’s Saleen Martin reports, “Welch is the same Salisbury, North Carolina man who, in December 2016, showed up to Comet Ping Pong, a pizzeria in Washington D.C., with loaded weapons to investigate ‘unfounded rumors concerning a child sex-trafficking ring’ that was allegedly operating out of the restaurant, federal prosecutors said.”
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During the 2016 election, promoters of the pizzagate conspiracy theory claimed that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was behind that nonexistent child sex trafficking ring. But even though there was no truth to Pizzagate, Welch stormed Comet Ping Pong with loaded weapons.
Martin notes, “He pleaded guilty in March 2017 to a federal charge of interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition, as well as a District of Columbia charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.”
After that guilty plea, Welch was given a four-year prison sentence.
Martin notes, “Welch allegedly tried to recruit people to participate in the storming of the restaurant leading up to December 4. He’d texted someone saying he was ‘raiding a pedo ring’ and sacrificing ‘the lives of a few for the lives of many.’ Prosecutors said Welch traveled from North Carolina to Washington D.C. with three loaded firearms, including a 9mm AR-15 assault rifle loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition, a fully-loaded, six-shot, .38-caliber revolver and a loaded shotgun with additional shotgun shells.”
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Read the Arizona Republic’s full article at this link.
