WASHINGTON – For conspiracy theorists, "pizzagate" didn't end when a man brought a gun to a Washington restaurant in a misguided attempt to rescue child sex slaves. Instead, the shooting sparked discussion that the conspiracy runs deeper.
On blogs, YouTube channels and internet radio shows devoted to conspiracy theories, some see Edgar Maddison Welch's arrest as the latest "false flag." That's a term for a cover-up or distraction orchestrated by the government or other powerful figures.
Welch told police he drove to Comet Ping Pong pizzeria to investigate the "pizzagate" rumors that Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman and other Washington insiders were harboring child sex slaves there. Police said Welch fired with a military-style rifle but surrendered peacefully.
There's no evidence to back up the "pizzagate" rumors.