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FactCheck.org's Weekly Update

August 17, 2019

State of the Union with Jake Tapper

Video: Harris, Warren on Michael Brown Shooting Posted on Friday, August 16th, 2019

In this fact-checking video, CNN’s Jake Tapper explains the Obama-era Department of Justice’s finding that Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old black man, was shot and killed by a white police officer in “self-defense,” not “murdered,” as Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris claimed.

FactCheck Posts

U.S.-Japan Trade Deficit Not ‘Changing Rapidly’ Posted on Friday, August 16th, 2019

In Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the trade deficit with Japan is “changing rapidly.” In fact, the U.S. deficit in goods and services with Japan is up slightly under Trump.

Biden Misleads on Top 1% Tax Rate Posted on Wednesday, August 14th, 2019

The top 1% of taxpayers, on average, pay a higher effective tax rate than middle-income people, contrary to a claim Joe Biden made on the campaign trail.

Harris Wrong on Autoworker Jobs Posted on Wednesday, August 14th, 2019

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris wrongly claimed that “as many as 300,000 autoworkers may be out of a job before the end of the year.” That’s a high-end estimate for total job losses — not solely among autoworkers — due to the potential impact of the Trump administration’s trade policies, including actions not yet taken.

Misinformation Flows Following Epstein’s Death Posted on Wednesday, August 14th, 2019

Unfounded claims and baseless conspiracy theories have run rampant in the aftermath of the Aug. 10 death of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Here we recap some of the stories that we have written so far on the Epstein case.

Harris, Warren Wrong About Brown Shooting Posted on Monday, August 12th, 2019

On Aug. 9, 2014, Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old black man, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in what the Obama administration’s Department of Justice determined was an act of “self-defense.” But Sens. Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren referred to Brown’s death as a “murder.”

Debunking False Stories

Meme Inflates Rise in Congressional Salaries Posted on Friday, August 16th, 2019

A viral meme on Facebook falsely claims that members of Congress have received a “231%” increase in pay in the last 30 years. Automatic cost-of-living adjustments have resulted in an increase of 94.4% from 1989 to 2009.

Obama Hasn’t Called For ‘All-Out Gun Confiscation’ Posted on Tuesday, August 13th, 2019

A headline circulating on partisan websites distorts former President Barack Obama’s tweet advocating stricter gun laws in the wake of the most recent mass shootings.

Baseless Claim About Barr Visit to Epstein Prison Posted on Tuesday, August 13th, 2019

A baseless claim that Attorney General William Barr visited the prison where accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was being held has been circulating online. But the sole source of that claim — a former mob associate — told us he has no idea if Barr went to the prison.

Bogus Conspiracy Theory Claims Epstein is Alive Posted on Tuesday, August 13th, 2019

A Facebook post from a user who appears to subscribe to QAnon conspiracies claims that Jeffrey Epstein is not dead. The theory is based solely on a news photo that shows an unresponsive Epstein being wheeled into a hospital on a gurney.

Unproven Claim of ‘Camera Malfunction’ Before Epstein’s Death Posted on Monday, August 12th, 2019

Viral posts claim there was a “camera malfunction” at the prison housing accused pedophile Jeffrey Epstein before his death. Officials have not confirmed that.

Articles

The Epstein Connections Fueling Conspiracy Theories Posted on Thursday, August 15th, 2019

Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to former President Bill Clinton and to President Donald Trump have provided the basis for unfounded conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death.

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