The reported suicide of infamous tax fugitive, Bitcoin proponent, and antivirus software program pioneer, John McAfee, has prompted an outpouring o
The reported suicide of infamous tax fugitive, Bitcoin proponent, and antivirus software program pioneer, John McAfee, has prompted an outpouring of tributes and conspiracy theories at this time.
After years of evading U.S. taxes and authorities, a Spanish court docket had ordered McAfee’s extradition simply hours earlier than he was discovered lifeless, with the 75-year-old anticipated to face a life sentence in america ought to he have been extradited.
Former Nationwide Safety Company (NSA) worker and whistleblower, Edward Snowden, criticized the worldwide attain of U.S. enforcement and warned that McAfee’s premature finish is probably not the one one as “Julian Assange’s story may finish a lot the identical.” He tweeted:
“Europe mustn’t extradite these accused of non-violent crimes to a court docket system so unfair — and a jail system so merciless — that native-born defendants would fairly die than grow to be topic to it.”
Cardano founder, Charles Hoskinson, praised McAfee’s contributions to laptop science, describing him as “one of the vital enigmatic and attention-grabbing individuals within the cryptocurrency area and the historical past of computing.” “He was additionally a deeply troubled particular person,” added Hoskinson, noting McAfee’s well-documented private traumas and substance abuse points.
RIP John Mcafee https://t.co/Rc4u3eXX6C
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) June 23, 2021
“The rationale for the suicide appears self-evident — McAfee was 75 years previous, and the extradition ot the US was authorised, he was taking a look at over 30 years in jail, if convicted, and sure would have been […] it appear that he determined to decide on ending his life there in a Spanish jail fairly than a U.S. jail.”
Bitcoin influencer and podcaster Anthony Pompliano remembered McAfee as “variety, humorous, and extremely clever,” sharing a picture of himself alongside the anti-virus pioneer and his spouse Janice Dyson, wielding heavy munitions from the home boat the pair had used to evade authorities for years.
I as soon as had the chance to spend the day with the legend @officialmcafee on his boat within the Bahamas.
He was variety, humorous, and extremely clever.
Will all the time keep in mind that day. RIP to one of many world’s most original people. pic.twitter.com/B5FnvDBRYK
— Pomp (@APompliano) June 23, 2021
Kim Dotcom, an web entrepreneur who’s combating his personal extradition costs from New Zealand over his file-sharing community, Megaupload, lamented McAfee’s drug abuse taking away from his potential, stating:
“A pioneer in knowledge safety. I all the time thought he partied too exhausting, ought to have averted the medication and concentrate on utilizing his good thoughts for good. When he had a sober thoughts it was all about freedom.”
QAnon and conspiracy theories
Regardless of McAfee’s personal authorized representatives in Spain, informing Reuters that McAfee had hanged himself fairly than face life in jail, the web is predictably ablaze with conspiracy theories asserting McAfee had not died at his personal hand.
The flames had been fanned shortly after his loss of life was reported, when McAfee’s official Instragram account shared a picture of the letter “Q,” igniting pleasure amongst QAnon conspiracy theorists. Enterprise Insider reported that QAnon influencers on Telegram with “a whole lot of hundreds of followers” had been sharing posts doubting the suicide story.
McAfee’s personal Tweets have been reposted endlessly at this time, together with one from December 2019 claiming the federal government was threatening to assassinate him and to not consider any model of occasions the place he dedicated suicide. Nevertheless, the tweet was selling his “WHAKD” crypto token, which referenced the loss of life of Jeffrey Epstein, and linked to a web site the place the token may very well be bought.
Getting delicate messages from U.S. officers saying, in impact: “We’re coming for you McAfee! We will kill your self”. I obtained a tattoo at this time simply in case. If I suicide myself, I did not. I used to be whackd. Test my proper arm.$WHACKD out there solely on https://t.co/HdSEYi9krq:) pic.twitter.com/rJ0Vi2Hpjj
— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) November 30, 2019
Different conspiracy theorists zeroed in on a publish from June 2019 the place he claimed to have a “31+ terabyte” trove of knowledge with proof of presidency corruption that he claimed incriminated “a CIA agent” and “two Bahamian officers” that he would launch if he had been ever arrested. Nevertheless McAfee was arrested in October 2020 and no such proof trove has been launched.
Each eccentric millionaire beefing with governments claims they’ve proof of corruption and that the whole lot shall be made public ought to tragedy befall them.
Tragedy ultimately befalls them, however the lifeless man’s swap by no means triggers and the proof isn’t delivered.
— Non-Fungible Toker (@eldeezo) June 23, 2021
It’s price taking into consideration McAfee was no stranger to creating daring and outlandish claims, together with promising he would devour his personal phallus on nationwide tv ought to the value of Bitcoin fail to exceed $1 million by 2021, that he had carried out sexual…