Obama Wasn't Arrested for Espionage

Zach Rathner

Politics

4th December 2020

The release discusses the arrest of former CIA officer Ching, not Obama (Getty Images).

The Claim

Former President Barack Obama was recently arrested on charges of espionage.

News posted on

Wotan56

Proud American 🇺🇸❤🕉☮

JACKIE FAIELLA

President-Elect-Odaizom-Alien Master

Russ Wilson

Emerging story

In November 2020, a Canadian website called “The Conservative Beaver” saying that former US President Barack Obama was arrested for espionage related to conspiring with a former CIA officer to communicate classified information to Chinese intelligence officials.

A picture containing text, suit, person, person

Description automatically generated

Users across social media continued to push this claim.

Misbar’s Analysis

The Misbar team has determined that the claim is false. The article cites statements made by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenji M. Price; however, the statements make no mention of the former U.S. President. The release discusses the arrest of former CIA officer Alexander Yuk Ching, who is accused of passing classified information to the Chinese government.

The Misbar team has found no information relating to the arrest of Barack Obama.