The Claim: US Special Forces Arrested Dr. Anthony Fauci
Dr. Anthony Fauci has been the face of America’s response to COVID-19 during the pandemic, but a number of social media users recently claimed that he is now behind bars.
The narrative originated on April 10 with a Real Raw News story, which has a history of publishing fabricated reports. The story was shared nearly 2,000 times on Facebook in 10 days, with other users reiterating the claim with standalone facebook posts as well as.
Real Raw News claimed that Fauci’s car was followed by special forces in civilian vehicles who “drew weapons and ordered Fauci’s guards to throw their firearms out the window.” The claim goes on to say that the soldiers “dragged Fauci from the vehicle, subdued him, and took him away for processing.”
But Fauci has not been arrested. He conducted multiple media interviews after Real Raw news claimed that he had been arrested.
USA TODAY has contacted users who shared the claim for comment.
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Fauci made public appearances on live television
Special Forces did not arrest Fauci on April 9 as claimed.
For one thing, Fauci has made multiple live media appearances since that date. He was seen on an April 10 ABC news interview and an April 11 appearance on MSNBC. Other news organizations like The hill Y The New York Times reported Fauci’s comments.
No legitimate media outlet or government entity reported Fauci’s arrest.
Also, an arrest like this would not involve US Special Forces. Special Forces cannot make arrests of citizens under the Posse Comitatus Act. The law prohibits “the deliberate use of any part of the Army or Air Force to enforce law unless expressly authorized by the Constitution or an act of Congress.”
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USA TODAY has previously debunked claims that Fauci was arrested.
Real Raw News has previously published false claims
Real Raw News has a publication history satires and fabricated reports, many of which have involved military arrests and executions of public figures. Those tricks play the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory. However, QAnon’s predictions have not come trueand their claims have been repeatedly discredited.
The website includes a disclaimer warning readers not to take its content too seriously: “The information on this website is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. This website contains humor, parody and satire.” However, the outlet’s stories are not directly labeled as satire and are presented as factual claims and are widely believed by social media users as a result.
“A long time ago! Arrest the others now! Oh, what a nuisance may be next!” read a comment about a post reporting on Fauci’s alleged arrest.
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However, Michael Baxter, identified as a contributor to the site, has defended the accuracy of several articles in the comments sections.
Our rating: False
Based on our investigation, we rate the claim that Dr. Anthony Fauci was arrested by US Special Forces as FALSE. Fauci made several live media appearances in the days after Real Raw News published the claim. . There is no evidence that Fauci has been arrested.
Our fact-checking sources:
- ABC News, April 10, Fauci advises assessing personal risk amid COVID-19 spike
- NBC, April 11 Transcript: The ReidOut, 11/4/22
- The Hill, April 10, Fauci says it’s up to individuals to determine COVID-19 risks at events
- The New York Times, April 10, A spike in virus cases in the US is worrying but not surprising, Fauci says.
- PolitiFact, April 12, No, Dr. Anthony Fauci was not arrested
- Check your fact, April 14, FACT CHECK: WAS ANTHONY FAUCI ARRESTED IN APRIL 2022?
- Check your fact, June 25, 2021, FACT CHECK: HAS ANTHONY FAUCI BEEN ARRESTED BY THE NAVY SEALS?
- PolitiFact, September 27, 2021, A look behind the sensational (and fabricated) headlines of Real Raw News
- Brennan Center for Justice, October 14, 2021, Explanation of the Posse Comitatus Law
- USA TODAY, September 22, 2020, Fact Check: False Claim That Arrested Dr. Anthony Fauci Uses Altered Photos Out Of Context
- USA TODAY, September 2, 2021, Fact Check: False claim that the military arrested Hunter Biden
- USA TODAY, August 4, 2021, QAnon followers distance themselves from the movement’s weirder conspiracy theories as they switch brands
- USA TODAY, September 17, 2020, Debunked QAnon conspiracy theories are leaking across major social media. Do not be fooled.
- Real Raw News, retrieved April 26, About us
- USA TODAY, April 20, Fact Check: False Claim Putin Rescued 35,000 Imprisoned Ukrainian Children
Collaboration: Daniel Funke
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Reference-www.usatoday.com