Elon Musk, new owner of Twitter, tweets unfounded conspiracy theory about Paul Pelosi attack

Elon Musk, the caller proprietor of Twitter, tweeted retired an unfounded conspiracy mentation Sunday greeting astir the onslaught connected the hubby of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from a website that has a past of publishing mendacious information.

Musk responded to erstwhile Secretary of State Hillary Clinton erstwhile she tweeted retired an L.A. Times story astir however the fishy successful the attack connected Paul Pelosi, David DePape, dispersed far-right conspiracy theories.

"There is simply a tiny anticipation determination mightiness beryllium much to this communicative than meets the eye," Musk wrote to Clinton, linking to a communicative published connected a right-wing website called the Santa Monica Observer that questioned the circumstances of the onslaught connected Pelosi, according to an archived mentation of the story. (The website was nary longer accessible precocious Sunday morning.)

As of precocious Sunday morning, Musk's tweet had much than 24,000 retweets and much than 86,000 likes, and was rapidly gaining much traction.

The fact-checking website Media Bias/Fact Check rates the Santa Monica Observer arsenic a "questionable source" based connected "the regular work of mendacious and misleading accusation and the usage of mediocre sources."

Media Bias/Fact Check said the website's nonfiction connected the Pelosi onslaught "appears to beryllium fake and defamatory."

Musk did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from NBC News.

The Santa Monica Observer has besides published different fake stories that falsely reported that erstwhile Secretary Clinton died successful the September 11, 2001 attacks and had been utilizing a assemblage treble since then, and that Ye, the rapper formerly known arsenic Kanye West, was appointed to a non-existent presumption successful the Department of the Interior nether erstwhile President Donald Trump.

The steadfast of the website, David Ganezer, unsuccessfully ran for Santa Monica City Council successful 2010 and 1988, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. He is presently a registered Republican, voting records show.

Musk's tweet comes conscionable days aft his $44 cardinal acquisition of Twitter was finalized. Musk has said helium volition loosen rules astir what benignant of code is allowed connected the platform. That vow has prompted concerns that the changes could thrust users and advertisers from the site.

DePape attacked Pelosi, 82, with a hammer aft breaking into their California location aboriginal Friday. The fishy was searching for the House speaker, who was successful Washington, D.C. astatine the time, 2 sources told NBC News.

Police arrived aft Pelosi called 911 erstwhile the fishy wasn't looking.

Pelosi suffered a skull fracture and superior injuries to his close limb and hands, according to Drew Hammill, spokesperson for Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He underwent palmy country and is expected to marque a afloat recovery, Hammill added Friday.

Police said DePape volition beryllium charged with attempted homicide, among different charges. Officials person said they are inactive moving to find a motive successful the attack