Did former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld commit suicide at a military tribunal? No, that's not true: The suicide claim originated from a website whose made-up stories regarding well-known people previously have been debunked. The site itself carries a disclaimer saying: "This website contains humor, parody, and satire." Rumsfeld's foundation released a statement that he died on June 29, 2021,…

Was Adam Schiff convicted of treason? No, that's not true: There's no evidence the Democratic congressman from California was convicted. The claim was published by a website known for publishing false allegations and that previously reported that Schiff had been arrested. A spokesperson for the congressman told Lead Stories the claim wasn't true, and Schiff has done interviews and been…

Did James Comey lose his head to a guillotine? No, that's not true: There's no credible evidence the former FBI director was executed. The website that published the report is known for making false allegations and has a disclaimer warning readers not to take its content too seriously. The same site previously reported that the military arrested Comey, a claim…

Did the military convict William Barr? No, that's not true: There's zero evidence to support the allegation that former Attorney General Barr was convicted on charges of treason. A Pentagon duty officer told Lead Stories the claim isn't true. It originated on a website that features a disclaimer warning readers not to take its content at face value. The claim…

Is Bill Clinton facing a military tribunal for crimes of "murder, sex crimes against minors, treason, theft of government property"? No, that's not true: A Pentagon duty officer confirmed to Lead Stories that this claim was "Not true." The originator of the claim has a disclaimer on their website to tell readers they are not a legitimate news source. The…

Has former CIA Director John Brennan been hanged at Guantanamo Bay? No, that's not true: A spokesperson at the Defense Department told Lead Stories that this is "completely false." The claim appeared in an article published by Real Raw News on June 14, 2021, titled "John Brennan Hanged at GITMO" (archived here). Real Raw News has a disclaimer on their…

Does a list of indictments, arrests and executions reveal a number of politicians, celebrities and royals who have been executed including Barack and Michelle Obama? No, that's not true. This list is completely false. It is part of the baseless and debunked QAnon conspiracy theory: that Donald Trump is fighting a secret international cabal of child sex predators made up…

Was former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta executed at the U.S. government's prison facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba? No, that's not true: The claim is "false," the Department of Defense told Lead Stories. The claim was published without on-the-record attribution to knowledgeable sources or any other evidence, and without specific disclaimers saying whether the article is fiction, parody…

Did the U.S. military arrest former White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx for her role in deceiving the public about the effectiveness of masks in preventing the spread of COVID-19? No, that's not true: The claim is a complete fabrication by a website that has published a series of similar false claims about the military arrests of political…

Did the military arrest Adam Schiff? No, that's not true: This is a completely made-up story, published by a website that posts false and fictionalized allegations. Lead Stories has previously debunked many of those. "This story is completely false and without basis in reality," a spokesperson for Rep. Schiff, D-Calif., told Lead Stories via email on May 28, 2021. The…