Antonin Scalia Conspiracy Theories: Top 5 Questions About His Death

antonin scalia wife, maureen mccarthy scalia, maureen scalia

Antonin Scalia’s death has led to several conspiracy theories. (Getty)

The circumstances and chaos surrounding the death of U.S. Supreme Justice Antonin Scalia at a Texas ranch have sparked many conspiracy theories.

Scalia was found dead in his bed Saturday morning at the luxury West Texas ranch. He was 79. Officials say he died of natural causes. An autopsy will not be conducted and police say there were no signs of foul play.

According to the Washington Post, the hours after Scalia’s death were filled with “chaos, confusion and conflicting reports.”

Scalia is survived by his wife, Maureen Scalia, his nine children and several grandchildren.

While the conspiracy theories are, as usual, outlandish and do not appear to have any merit, they have spread quickly on social media.

Here’s what conspiracy theorists are asking:


1. Why Did He Have a Pillow Over His Head When He Was Found Dead?

antonin scalia wife, maureen mccarthy scalia, maureen scalia

Scalia and his wife, Maureen. (Getty)

One of the major red flags for conspiracy theorists about Scalia’s death is that he was found with a pillow over his head, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Scalia had gone to bed Friday night after dinner with friends, telling them he wasn’t feeling well. After not coming to breakfast, the justice was found dead.

“We discovered the judge in bed, a pillow over his head. His bed clothes were unwrinkled,” Houston businessman John Poindexter, the owner of the ranch where Scalia was staying, told the Express-News. “He was lying very restfully. It looked like he had not quite awakened from a nap.”

While it is not uncommon for people to sleep with a pillow covering their head, it has raised questions on social media.

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Drudge Report splashed it across its website, linking to the Express-News:


2. Why Was His Cause of Death Declared by Phone?

Antonin Scalia conspiracy theories

(Getty)

Another question raised about Scalia’s death surrounds why he was declared dead of natural causes over the phone. The Washington Post provides an answer.

Authorities were not able to find a justice of the peace who could get to the remote ranch where Scalia died. When Presidio County Judge Cinderela Guevara was reached by phone, she said she was assured by police there were no signs of foul play and made the declaration without seeing the body, as allowed by law, the Post reports. Guevara said she also spoke to Scalia’s physician, who said he was suffering from chronic conditions.

“He was having health issues,” Guevera told the Post. “It wasn’t a heart attack. He died of natural causes.”

But even other officials are questioning Guevara’s decision.

“If it had been me . . . I would want to know,” Juanita Bishop, a justice of the peace in Presidio, told the Post.


3. Why Did Local Officials & His Family Decline to Have an Autopsy Conducted?

An autopsy is not planned for Scalia, who was taken from the ranch to a funeral home and is expected to be transported back to Washington, D.C. this week.

That has also raised concerns among conspiracy theorists. Alex Jones posted a video to YouTube about the issue.

“Maybe he did die of natural causes,” Jones said. “But then they tell you right away, ‘no foul play,’ don’t investigate, nothing to see here, that’s a big tell-tale sign. Why would we not question, why would we not at least say, ‘there will be an investigation and the coroner should let us know in a few weeks.’ Because in any other death, they always say ‘it takes a few weeks.'”


4. Did Obama Have Scalia Killed So He Could Fill His Supreme Court Seat?

President Obama speech full text transcript

(Getty)

The main person who could have been behind Scalia’s death is President Obama, though Alex Jones and others have mentioned the Clinton family as well.

The theory is that Obama had Scalia killed so that he could fill his Supreme Court seat before he leaves office, though it appears it will not be easy for him to do that as the GOP-controlled House and Senate seem prepared to challenge any nomination. Another theory is that Obama’s administration was concerned about an upcoming ruling by the Supreme Court and wanted to take Scalia out of the picture.

Within hours of Scalia’s death, tweets began to claim he was murdered:

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5. Was He About to Confess the Bush Family’s Role in 9/11?

Jeb Bush, Columba Bush

The Bush family in a 2005 portrait. (Getty)

One theory that is also being raised is that Scalia was killed by the Bush family because he was about to confess the Bush’s role in the 9/11 attacks.

The Abreu Report writes, “According to a source, Justice Scalia was going to confess to involvement by the Bush family in the attacks of September the 11th. Scalia’s death marks a stunning development in the 15-year saga that has become the War on Terror, but one that will likely be buried by elements within the American military-industrial complex.”

The website says Scalia “chose the wrong state to visit,” referencing the Bush family’s influence in Texas.