RantCrush Top 5: February 21, 2017

Yesterday, Vitaly I. Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations for more than a decade, suddenly passed away in New York City. According to the deputy U.N. ambassador, Churkin fell ill at his office but no further details were provided. He was the longest serving member of the Security Council, which is the most powerful part of the U.N., and was described by many as professional, warm, and funny. Not much is known about the cause of death yet but it is believed to have been a heart attack. And even though there is no evidence of foul play, authorities are waiting for the final reports from the medical examiner’s office before confirming an official cause of death.

But that didn’t stop conspiracy theories from running rampant:

37 minutes: Amount of time between first report I saw of Vitaly Churkin’s death and first conspiracy theory about it.

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) February 20, 2017

If conservatives can think a local pizza shop is a Clinton sex ring, I can think this is a little supsicioushttps://t.co/rUKKseeizr

— Nate Lerner (@NathanLerner) February 21, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.