CNN
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Unbiased presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has confirmed that amongst his potential vice-presidential prospects is New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who in non-public conversations shared deranged conspiracy theories in regards to the 2012 Sandy Hook college taking pictures not being actual.
CNN is aware of of two folks with whom Rodgers has enthusiastically shared these tales, together with with Pamela Brown, one of many journalists penning this piece.
Brown was masking the Kentucky Derby for CNN in 2013 when she was launched to Rodgers, then with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, at a post-Derby occasion. Listening to that she was a journalist with CNN, Rodgers instantly started attacking the information media for masking up necessary tales. Rodgers introduced up the tragic killing of 20 kids and 6 adults by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty, claiming it was truly a authorities inside job and the media was deliberately ignoring it.
When Brown questioned him on the proof to indicate this very actual taking pictures was staged, Rodgers started sharing numerous theories which have been disproven quite a few instances. Such conspiracy theories had been additionally later on the middle of lawsuits introduced by victims’ households once they sued conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on the matter.
Jones baselessly repeating lies that the 2012 mass taking pictures was staged, and that the households and first responders had been “disaster actors,” spawned a number of lawsuits and a trial was held in 2022 over lawsuits that had been filed in Connecticut.
Members of the family all through that trial described in poignant phrases how the lies had prompted unrelenting harassment in opposition to them and compounded the emotional agony of dropping their family members.
Brown recollects Rodgers asking her if she thought it was off that there have been males in black within the woods by the varsity, falsely claiming these males had been truly authorities operatives. Brown discovered the encounter disturbing.
CNN has spoken to a different individual with an identical story. This individual, to whom CNN has granted anonymity in order to keep away from harassment, recalled that a number of years in the past, Rodgers claimed, “Sandy Hook by no means occurred…All these kids by no means existed. They had been all actors.”
When requested in regards to the grieving mother and father, the supply recalled Rodgers saying, “They’re all making it up. They’re all actors.”
Rodgers went on to delve into among the darker caverns of the false conspiracy principle. This individual discovered the encounter disturbing.
On Thursday, Rodgers didn’t deny the feedback he made to Brown or the opposite supply, however stated on X, “As I’m on the report saying up to now, what occurred in Sandy Hook was an absolute tragedy. I’m not and have by no means been of the opinion that the occasions didn’t happen. Once more, I hope that we study from this and different tragedies to determine the indicators that may permit us to stop pointless lack of life. My ideas and prayers proceed to stay with the households affected together with the whole Sandy Hook group.”
Kennedy’s marketing campaign introduced Wednesday that the candidate will title his working mate on March 26 in Oakland, California. Kennedy informed CNN in an interview on Tuesday that he had lately met with Rodgers, in addition to former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, about the potential of becoming a member of his marketing campaign.
Following CNN’s reporting, a marketing campaign spokesperson stated Kennedy believes the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty taking pictures was a “horrific tragedy.”
“Mr. Kennedy believes the Sandy Hook taking pictures was a horrific tragedy. The 20 kids and 6 adults that died December 14, 2012 introduced the whole nation collectively in grief. Allow us to honor their reminiscence,” Kennedy spokesperson Stefanie Spear informed CNN.
This story has been up to date with a remark from the Kennedy marketing campaign and a remark from Aaron Rodgers on X.