George Soros, the favorite boogeyman of conspiracy theorists, receives explosives in mailbox

NPR

An explosive device was found at the Westchester County, New York, home of billionaire philanthropist George Soros on Monday afternoon.

In a statement to NPR, the Bedford Police Department said an employee of the house found a suspicious package in the mailbox. They opened it, revealing what "appeared to be an explosive device." The employee placed the package in a nearby wooded area and alerted authorities.

State and federal authorities responded to the scene in Katonah, a hamlet in the town of Bedford. A bomb squad was able to safely detonate the device, The New York Times reports.

After authorities were contacted, an "extensive investigation" involving the Bedford Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI, commenced.

The case has been handed over to the Joint Terrorism Task Force Division of the FBI, the Bedford Police Department says.

Billionaire Soros, an 88-year-old survivor of Nazi Germany-occupied Hungary, made his fortune running a hedge fund.

Over the course of decades, Soros has given billions of dollars away in philanthropic efforts — including $18 billion to the Open Society Foundation, which he founded in 1993. The left-leaning OSF works to "build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens." (The OSF has been a financial supporter of NPR.)

He frequently donates to Democratic candidates and progressive causes. Soros became a well-known political figure when he donated nearly $24 million in 2004 to groups opposed to President George W. Bush's re-election. The billionaire has remained a steady Democratic benefactor.

His political donations have made Soros a favorite target of conspiracy theorists and anti-Semitic slurs. Some conservative commentators, such as Glenn Beck, and Hollywood figures, such as Roseanne Barr, have falsely claimed that Soros was a Nazi collaborator.

At least two Republicans have recently claimed Soros bankrolled a caravan of migrantscurrently headed to the U.S., including President Trump. The president also said that two women who confronted Sen. Jeff Flake in an elevator during the hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's alleged sexual assault were "professionals" paid for by Soros.

Oh, I cannot wait for the conspiracies on this one. :eyeroll:

So I take this to mean this was an functional bomb as a opposed to a suspicious parcel. Well I hope whoever sent it is pleased, they almost killed a maid or someone. I suspect 88 year old billionaires don't typically walk to the mailbox and go through their own mail.

Poor soros , so he forgot to mail someone on the left their monthly pay off and they repay him by doing this.....

Bad leftists.

@Jacanuk: Please offer citation for this conspiracy.

Not okay.

Right-wing extremists at it again.

@Jacanuk: Wjat has Soros done that you hate?

I'm curious about this too. What illegal or at least unethical activity does Soros partake in?

Are we taking bets on which conspiracy Jac will list?

I wish I get random mail packages in my mailbox...

@watercrack445: Is that a proposition?

Soros is a cancer to the planet and needs to be stopped, but violence isn’t the answer. He will be funding Leftist causes long after he dies - more so even.

Vote Republican or non liberal candidates in your country’s elections. It’s the only way to stop Soros.

Rofl.

Trump's proud boys strike again!

It's not a conspiracy theory that he funds organizations that also fund protests and pro migration propaganda.

It's literally in his freaking tax return.

The conspiracy theory you're thinking of is the one nobody suggested, which is George Soros sending paychecks to individuals to protest and riot. The kind of shit the fake news media spins to make everyone look like an idiot for even questioning or suggesting George Soro's intents.

There's nothing necessarily illegal about it, but it is unethical to AstroTurf causes.

@Gaming-Planet: Citation for his tax returns.

Uh huh.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/soros-caravan-refugees/

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/20/world/americas/migrant-caravan-video-trump.html

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/george-soros-ss-nazi-germany/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/05/no-george-soros-isnt-paying-kavanaugh-protesters/

https://www.factcheck.org/2018/09/viral-photo-doesnt-show-soros-with-ford/

Yup....No one is making up insane conspiracy theories about Soros. No one. (ROFL)

I mean, he could simply just be a really rich dude who is into left wing policy and donating to humanitarian stuff as well. Which is neither illegal or unethical.

So like the Kochs. Only not evil.

https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/

http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990pf_pdf_archive/263/263753801/263753801_201612_990PF.pdf

https://twitter.com/search?q=%40opensociety%20%40skylightpix&src=typd&lang=en

Organized DACA protests.

https://unitedwedream.org/

https://www.c-span.org/video/?448152-1/lawmakers-activists-protest-judge-brett-kavanaugh-nomination-supreme-court

@Gaming-Planet said:

@n64dd said:

@Gaming-Planet: Citation for his tax returns.

https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/

http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990pf_pdf_archive/263/263753801/263753801_201612_990PF.pdf

https://twitter.com/search?q=%40opensociety%20%40skylightpix&src=typd&lang=en

Organized DACA protests.

https://unitedwedream.org/

https://www.c-span.org/video/?448152-1/lawmakers-activists-protest-judge-brett-kavanaugh-nomination-supreme-court

Funding groups you agree with politically isn't illegal or conspiratorial. People are saying he's directly paying fake protesters. He started Charlottesville. He's a king puppetmaster controlling all the Dems. People are saying he's funding the caravan. It's fake news.

This is all false.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/20/world/americas/migrant-caravan-video-trump.html

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/george-soros-ss-nazi-germany/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/05/no-george-soros-isnt-paying-kavanaugh-protesters/

https://www.factcheck.org/2018/09/viral-photo-doesnt-show-soros-with-ford/

https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/why-the-conspiracy-theories-about-george-soros-dont-stack-up

http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2017/aug/14/alex-jones/infowars-alex-jones-falsely-says-george-soros-hill/

You're essentially creating a straw-man argument and saying the actual conspiracy theories aren't being stated by the far right, and building a case up on something that isn't even a conspiracy.

AstroTurfing is always unethical.

It makes a mountain out of a molehill. They're not grassroots.

@zaryia said:

@Gaming-Planet said:

@n64dd said:

@Gaming-Planet: Citation for his tax returns.

https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/

http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990pf_pdf_archive/263/263753801/263753801_201612_990PF.pdf

https://twitter.com/search?q=%40opensociety%20%40skylightpix&src=typd&lang=en

Organized DACA protests.

https://unitedwedream.org/

https://www.c-span.org/video/?448152-1/lawmakers-activists-protest-judge-brett-kavanaugh-nomination-supreme-court

Funding groups you agree with politically isn't illegal or conspiratorial. People are saying he's directly paying fake protesters. People are saying he's funding the caravan. It's fake news.

This is all false.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/20/world/americas/migrant-caravan-video-trump.html

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/george-soros-ss-nazi-germany/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/05/no-george-soros-isnt-paying-kavanaugh-protesters/

https://www.factcheck.org/2018/09/viral-photo-doesnt-show-soros-with-ford/

You're essentially creating a straw-man argument and saying the actual conspiracy theories aren't being stated by the far right, and building a case up on something that isn't even a conspiracy.

Nobody is making the claim that he's directly paying protesters. That's the media making up shit again.

“The very rude elevator screamers are paid professionals only looking to make Senators look bad. Don’t fall for it! Also, look at all of the professionally made identical signs. Paid for by Soros and others. These are not signs made in the basement from love! #Troublemakers”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) tweeted an unverified video clip last week that showed a man distributing money to people with backpacks who appeared to be migrants. Gaetz suggested — citing no evidence — that billionaire philanthropist George Soros was behind the cash payout.

Yet they omit the information I've provided that gives evidence to Astroturfing. But okay, let's negate that because of this quote.

That's not the conspiracy theory anyone is talking about, because that isn't even a conspiracy theory. It's normal practice and not illegal. GOP and DNC both do this. Soros, a hollocaust survivor, is BIG TIME into human rights. He gives endless amounts of cash to humanitarian charities and liberal groups. Guess which political spectrum he was most likely going to align himself with?

@Gaming-Planet said:

The conspiracy theory you're thinking of is the one nobody suggested,

Nobody suggested this shit?,

National Review accused Deborah Ramirez, one of the women who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct or harassment, of receiving funding from Soros via a fellowship in 2003 (which actually went to a different Deborah Ramirez.)

In August 2017, Jones suggested that Soros and Hillary Clinton instigated the violence at Charlottesville that took place last summer when white supremacists clashed with anti-fascist protesters.

Jones said, “It was clear once Trump got inaugurated, they [Soros and Clinton] were going to go for civil unrest.” He also claimed that the Southern Poverty Law Center had hired actors to “dress up as white supremacists.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) tweeted an unverified video clip last week that showed a man distributing money to people with backpacks who appeared to be migrants. Gaetz suggested — citing no evidence — that billionaire philanthropist George Soros was behind the cash payout.

On 5 October 2010, Beck revived a conspiracy theory that Soros was responsible for triggering the financial crisis that hit southeast Asia in 1997. Beck said “many, including the Malaysian prime minister, believe it was billionaire speculator George Soros who helped trigger the [1997 southeast Asian] economic meltdown.”

Conspiracy theorists frequently pin controversial political developments to billionaire philanthropist George Soros, suggesting that he is pulling the strings behind left-wing causes.

So, it’s no surprise that a photo has been circulating online falsely claiming to show Soros posing with Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has altered the course of Brett Kavanaugh‘s nomination to the Supreme Court with her allegation that he sexually assaulted her in high school.

One version of the photo that has been shared more than 7,000 times on Facebook claims in the caption: “Kavanaugh accuser Christina Blasey Ford with none other than the Nazi collaborator himself, George Soros. The pieces of the puzzle are finally coming together.”

And I can keep going. What, Soros is the poster boy for conspiracy theories. You're making some shitty straw-man were a non conspiracy is what the right has always been going on about when it comes to Soros. But that's bullshit. Conspiracies against him ares the norm. You haven't and can't debunk a single fact check site I've linked - which is why I know you have no clue what you're talking about.

@Gaming-Planet said:

Yet they omit the information I've provided that gives evidence to Astroturfing. But okay, let's negate that because of this quote.

The conspiracy theory is that Soros payed the protesters. It is false. End of discussion. Trump and Fox stated that, as per the multiple fact checks on this issue directly quoting them.

This has all been readily fact checked.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/05/no-george-soros-isnt-paying-kavanaugh-protesters/

Damn, you are truly lost.

Just going to assume sarcasm.

Wonder what Soros did, seems a lot of people even governments really loves to hate the guy.

In some news article the guys destabilizing markets in South East Asia in 1997. Banned in Thailand and other SEA countries, even Hong Kong and Beijing is cautious of the guy.

Nothing. It's mostly fake conspiracy.

Here's an example for you: Alexander Lukashenko recently stated that criminalizing the beating of children and wives by husbands is anti Christian and he will never allow these foul Western values in his country. And guess what? he hates the shit out of Soros, because the guy is pushing for basic human rights all over the world.

But when everyone hates the guy, there gotta be something wrong. Read more regarding this and seems Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and everyone else affected blames Soros for South East Asia Financial Crisis in 1997. He got a good reputation in the 1st world countries but loathed by many in the developing countries.

@sakaixx said: @rmpumper said:

Debunked.

Conspiracy theory 3: George Soros caused the 1997 financial crisis in southeast Asia

On 5 October 2010, Beck revived a conspiracy theory that Soros was responsible for triggering the financial crisis that hit southeast Asia in 1997. Beck said “many, including the Malaysian prime minister, believe it was billionaire speculator George Soros who helped trigger the [1997 southeast Asian] economic meltdown.”

Beck was referring to controversial comments made by the Malaysian prime minister at the time of the 1997 crash.

Addressing a rally, Mahathir Mohamad said “We may suspect that they have an agenda, but we do not want to accuse […] And incidentally we are Muslims, and the Jews are not happy to see the Muslims progress. The Jews robbed the Palestinians of everything, but in Malaysia they could not do so, hence they do this, depress the ringgit [Malaysian currency].”

Mr Mohamad reportedly said on 10 October 1997: “We do not want to say that this is a plot by the Jews, but in reality it is a Jew who triggered the currency plunge, and coincidentally Soros is a Jew. It is also a coincidence that the Malaysians are mostly Muslim.”

But in 1998, the Bank for International Settlements’ annual report found that “despite often-cited anecdotal reports, there is little concrete evidence that hedge funds [such as the one run by Soros] as a group were heavily involved in triggering or even intensifying the series of South-East Asian currency depreciations.”

And in 2006, Malaysia’s former prime minister finally conceded: “Mr Soros said he was not involved in the devaluation of the Malaysian currency and that other people were involved. And I have accepted that.”

Did Trump just open the asylum's doors and let the tinfoil people out on the streets?

Absolutely disgusting behaviour by whoever seeked to bomb him.

Regarding Soros, the guy seems more intent on opposing AUTHORITARIANISM than Right wing politics. The guy donated quite a bit of money to the GOP in the 80's and 90's, and was a staunch anti-commie. He only stopped supporting the GOP after their war in iraq and their more authoritarian tendencies started to show. Yes he does in general support more left wing stuff than right wing. But in the end, most conspiracy theories on him are absurd.

@rmpumper:

Isn’t he also accused of funding insurgencies and protests in Hungary, Russia, and the Middle East too? The Soros conspiracy theories are in an entirely new plane of idiotic existence. It makes the liberal hatred for the Koch’s look completely tame.

The latest conspiracy and boogyman tactic is that he is funding the caravan. Donating to liberal groups was never one of these, conflation and lying is bad.

Like 99.9% of other ones, It is false and has been heavily fact checked by multiple sources.

And now Hillary and Obama have receive "suspicious packages". This is ugly and scary. Stop it people.

I feel like our current leadership has contributed to this behaviour.

This needs to stop, and if someone on the right is doing it they must be too stupid to know stunts like this will only help Democrats especially right before the midterms. Republicans received some sympathy after Senator Scalise was shot.

Obama and Clinton don't even hold any power...

Ya fake bombs are of course done by the right. Which you can hopefully back up with credible proof.

But, where was your outrage when a Sanders Supporter went after the Republican senators? and only by a miracle did not manage to succeed in making a massacre

did you just make moral equivalency between pipe bombs and raising your voice at someone during dinner?

What on earth are you talking about?

But nice trolling there.

I dont know because I am not sure I understand what this means below. what event are you referring to? and how do you know the bombs are fake? did I miss something

where was your outrage when a Sanders Supporter went after the Republican senators

CNN recieved a suspicious package as well.

Well, lets not get technical, they may not be elected officials but they indeed wield power. Not that it matters or that in any way, shape or form justifies this situation.

@Master_Live: Outside of some speaking and campaigning, what power do they have?

Do Taylor swift hold any power?

Just a question which will give you the answer to your own.

Of course not.

So 60.000 more registered to vote after a Swift Tweet is not power?

Well, then let´s figure out what you define as power then.