Fake news writer who duped Trump campaign officials during election found dead
Paul Horner, a famous writer of fake news, was found dead in his bed at his house outside of Phoenix on Sept. 18, Mark Casey, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, told the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
by Melissa Quinn
Washington Examiner
A famous writer of fake news who was responsible for stories saying former President Obama was a radical Muslim and alleging protesters at Donald Trump’s campaign rallies had been paid has died.
Paul Horner, 38, was found dead in his bed at his house outside of Phoenix on Sept. 18, Mark Casey, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, told the Associated Press.
The Maricopa County medical examiner conducted an autopsy on Horner’s body, Casey said, and “evidence at the scene suggested this could be an accidental overdose.” The 38-year-old had abused prescription drugs in the past, but toxicology reports are still pending.
Horner published fake news stories that frequently went viral, but he rose to prominence and expanded his reach to the upper echelons of the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election.
The fake-news writer’s stories were shared widely, including one about a protester at a Trump rally who was paid $3,500 to demonstrate that was shared by Kellyanne Conway, Corey Lewandowski, and Eric Trump.
In an interview with the Washington Post just after the election, Horner said “Trump is in the White House because of me,” and said the president’s supporters will “believe anything” and don’t fact-check the articles they see.
Horner told the Washington Post he never targeted fake news at Hillary Clinton’s supporters, but instead focused on those who backed Trump.