GOP Rep. Pushes Conspiracy Theory That ISIS Responsible For Las Vegas Attack

UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 1: Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., arrives for the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on "An Insiders Look at the North Korean Regime" on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

During an interview with the attorney representing the victims of the Las Vegas massacre, Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) falsely claimed on Fox News Thursday that ISIS was responsible for the mass shooting.

Appearing on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” Perry said he had “credible evidence” that he believes links the shooting, which left 50-plus people dead, to “potential terrorist infiltration through the south border.” Las Vegas police and the FBI have consistently said the attack was conducted by a lone wolf shooter, Stephen Paddock, but earlier this week, police said they were investigating charges against another person.

“Let’s face it. ISIS twice before the attack warned the United States that they would attack Las Vegas, I think in June and August and then after the attack, claimed responsibility four times,” he said. “I smell a rat, like a lot of Americans. Nothing’s adding up. It’s been four months. The man is dead, they said he’s a lone gunman, lone shooter, yet we can’t get the autopsy results.”

The local coroner actually released the results of Paddock’s autopsy in December — he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and his death was ruled a suicide. The alleged shooter’s cremated remains were delivered to his brother on Thursday, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported. 

The attorney for the massacre victims, Catherine Lombardo, questioned Perry’s information and told him it was “irresponsible” for the congressman to make those allegations without evidence.

The FBI and Las Vegas metro police department have been conducting investigation. We see no evidence of a terrorist attack,” she said.

Watch a clip of the interview below:

 

Latest Livewire
120
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. “I smell a rat, like a lot of Americans."

    Go take a shower–the rat you smell is you.

    (This guy’s district is ripe for a Democratic takeover, right? For having a congressman who is too dumb to tie his own shoes.)

  2. Avatar for ajoguy ajoguy says:

    Desperation as a form of governance. If there were a plausible way to blame ISIS on extreme weather events they would have theories flowing out of their sweet lying asses.

  3. This is how desperate they’ve gotten? An ISIS conspiracy against country music fans in Vegas? What, Perry? Did Hillary and John Podesta get a Kenyan ISIS terrorist with the alias “Stephen Paddock” a fake passport so he could cross the border from The Rapey Anti-Trump Country, enter the US under false pretenses, and commit multiple murders to make Donald Trump, the NRA, and the GOP look bad?
    Please shout your conspiracy from the rooftops, Mr. Perry. Especially the month before the 2018 midterms.

  4. Snort a couple of more rails, Rep. Perry. Maybe you can think of a way to blame ISIS for the government shutdown.

  5. Well it couldn’t have been an old white man acting alone.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

114 more replies

Participants

Avatar for paulw Avatar for playitagainrowlf Avatar for josephebacon Avatar for robaruba Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for jloomis3 Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for losamigos Avatar for poorcitizen Avatar for carlosfiance Avatar for thebigragu Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for lastroth Avatar for arc_of_the_universe Avatar for kitty Avatar for airportman Avatar for bboerner Avatar for ronbyers Avatar for gajake Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for uneducated Avatar for jsrtheta Avatar for centralasiaexpat

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: