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Hillary Clinton Calls Fake News a Major Threat, Forgets She Lied About Coming Under Fire in Bosnia

December 8, 2016

Hillary Clinton took the opportunity Thursday on Capitol Hill to lecture an audience about the dangers of fake news during a speech commemorating outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's (D., Nev.) years of service.

She forgot to mention her own version of fake news: lying about coming under sniper fire in Bosnia in 1996.

"Let me mention briefly one threat, in particular, that should concern all Americans–Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike, especially those who serve in our Congress," Clinton said on Thursday. "The epidemic of malicious fake news and false propaganda that flooded social media over the past year. It's now clear that so-called fake news can have real world consequences."

"This isn't about politics or partisanship," Clinton continued. "Lives are at risk. Lives of ordinary people just trying to go about their day to do their jobs, contribute to their communities. It's a danger that must be addressed and addressed quickly. Bipartisan legislation is making its way through Congress to boost the government's response to foreign propaganda, and Silicon Valley is starting to grapple with the challenge and threat of fake news."

Clinton was referencing a recent shooting in Washington, D.C., where a man entered a pizza restaurant with a gun under the impression that there was a child sex ring being run out of the basement by Clinton because of a fake news story. No one was hurt in the incident.

Allies of the former Democratic presidential nominee have said since last month's election that fake news contributed in part to Clinton's loss to Donald Trump.

Clinton has been involved with the issue of fake news in the past. The former first lady previously came under fire for saying that when she got off a plane in Tuzla, Bosnia in 1996, she came under sniper fire.

"I remember landing under sniper fire," she said in 2008. "There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead, we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base."

A CBS reporter was on the plane with Clinton and got off with her. She showed photos that were taken at the greeting ceremony Clinton said she could not attend since there was too much sniper fire.

Clinton's claim has widely been debunked as a false statement by fact-checkers.

Published under: Hillary Clinton