Malia Obama Arrested with “Gang of Thugs” in Chicago –Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
President Obama’s daughter, Malia Obama, was arrested with a “gang of thugs” in Chicago in May 2017.
The Truth:
A self-described fake news website is behind false reports that Malia Obama was arrested in Chicago in May 2017.
The report appeared at Last Line of Defense under the headline, “Malia Obama Arrested With A Gang Of Thugs In Chicago.” The story, which had been shared nearly 10,000 times within days of publication, explained that Malia Obama was arrested along with seven others after “a day of drinking, drugs and dogfighting at a public park in Chicago.” The report continues:
She was found in the company of mostly older men when police arrived after being called by a concerned citizen complaining about a loud group of people watching dogs fight in the park. According to a witness:
“They was all just right out there in the open drinkin’ and lettin’ their dogs go at it. I saw some smoking weed. Some were doing other things I don’t know. All those dudes had that baggy pants thing. They weren’t the types of people you’d expect that girl to be with.”
According to the Secret Service, Malia had slipped away late last night after being told open air parties at public parks were too dangerous. She wasn’t seen again until she showed up in the 12th precinct jail. her parents haven’t been available for comment.
Last Line of Defense often publishes fabricated reports like this one. The website’s disclaimer makes clear that “all articles should be considered satirical,” and that quotes are incomplete and/or “total baloney”:
DISCLAIMER: The Resistance may include information from sources that may or may not be reliable and facts that don’t necessarily exist. All articles should be considered satirical and any and all quotes attributed to actual people complete and total baloney. Pictures that represent actual people should be considered altered and not in any way real.
We’re calling this one “fiction” based on its source’s lack of credibility. Malia Obama has been a frequent target of fabricated reports like this one. We’ve investigated previous (false) reports that Malia was expelled from Harvard for smoking pot and Malia was pregnant at 16.