John McAfee Email: ‘My Staff Is Filing The Paperwork’ For Presidential Run

Antivirus software guru and self-described “eccentric millionaire” John McAfee said he planned on Tuesday to file paperwork to run for President, according to an email obtained by TPM.

“Tomorrow my staff is filing the paperwork for my candidacy for US President,” the email, dated Monday, read. “We will have a 48 hour no comment period then on Thursday I fly to New York to formally announce on Fox News.”

But McAfee had not filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission as of Tuesday morning, according to agency spokeswoman Julia Queen. It wasn’t clear from the email whether he planned to register with any particular party.

McAfee, who is no longer affiliated with the software that bares his name, has captured attention in recent years, not for his technological expertise, but for his larger-than-life account of fleeing from Central American officials he said were corrupt and trying to extort him. McAfee was wanted for questioning in Belize, where he maintained a compound out in the jungle, in connection with the 2012 killing of his neighbor.

It’s hard to tell whether the stories McAfee tells about his exploits are true, a lot of hogwash or some combination of the two. It’s equally hard to tell from the email whether he actually intends to run for President.

McAfee did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. A Fox News spokesperson also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Late Monday, McAffee tweeted and posted to Facebook a message referencing “rumors” about his potential 2016 bid. Both posts were deleted late Tuesday morning, although McAfee continued to retweet users who celebrated the announcement that he was talking the possibility over with advisers.

“I cannot confirm the rumors that I am running for president in 2016,” the since-deleted message read. “My advisers and I will decide in the next few days.”