Tech

Viral clip shows Michael Flynn saying he might ‘find somebody in Washington, D.C.’ after a supporter gives him a gun

Many worry Flynn’s QAnon fans won’t be in on his ‘joke.’

Claire Goforth

Over the weekend, a clip emerged of a supporter giving Michael Flynn an assault-style rifle at an event in California. As he accepted the gun, Flynn said, “Maybe I’ll find somebody in Washington, D.C.,” prompting laughter and cheers.

Featured Video

Flynn’s comment is being taken as a dog whistle to the same people who participated in and supported the Capitol riot, during which five died and more than 100 were injured. Many rioters, nearly 600 of whom have since been arrested, were QAnon followers. Flynn is something of a standard bearer to the QAnon conspiracy theorists who believe former President Donald Trump was fighting an evil international cabal of Satanists who rape and eat children.

Flynn has embraced their adoration. He’s spent much of the last several months on the road, speaking at events filled with QAnon believers.

He made the comment about finding someone in Washington, D.C. at an event at a church in Yuba, California. The clip was posted by outspoken QAnon critic Jim Stewartson.

Advertisement

It has 1 million views as of this writing.

While most don’t think that Flynn intends to actually shoot someone in the nation’s capital, they are concerned that at least some members of his audience don’t realize that he was kidding.

“He continues to make ‘jokes’ like this to crowds and groups littered with QAnon people and insurrectionists. And they are not going to see this as a joke,” tweeted attorney Ron Filipkowski, who describes himself on Twitter as a former Republican.

Advertisement

Several suggested that Flynn should be questioned by law enforcement for potentially threatening a public official. Numerous people brought up Kathy Griffin, who was investigated by the Secret Service after she posted a photo of herself holding a fake, decapitated Trump head.

Others believe that the military should punish Flynn, a former lieutenant general in the Army. He retired in 2014; in 2017, Flynn pled guilty to lying to federal law enforcement about his contacts with Russia. Trump subsequently pardoned him. Flynn continues to receive a pension from the military.

“He needs to be brought back to active duty, court martialed, dishonorably discharged and then lose all taxpayer benefits in retirement…” suggested one Twitter user.

https://twitter.com/RogueEarthBorn/status/1419310467047100421?s=20
Advertisement

Threatening government officials is a felony. There are no indications that Flynn is under investigation.

Advertisement

Read more of the Daily Dot’s tech and politics coverage

Nevada’s GOP secretary of state candidate follows QAnon, neo-Nazi accounts on Gab, Telegram
Court filing in Bored Apes lawsuit revives claims founders built NFT empire on Nazi ideology
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Say hi to the Donald for us’: Florida police briefed armed right-wing group before they went to Jan. 6 protest
Inside the Proud Boys’ ties to ghost gun sales
‘Judas’: Gab users are furious its founder handed over data to the FBI without a subpoena
EXCLUSIVE: Anti-vax dating site that let people advertise ‘mRNA FREE’ semen left all its user data exposed
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
 
Exit mobile version