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No, that’s not Epstein with Chris Wallace. It’s George Clooney.
If Your Time is short
These photos are from a 2012 trip Chris Wallace took to visit George Clooney at his home in Lake Como, Italy.
Some Republicans have accused Fox News anchor Chris Wallace of being biased against President Donald Trump as he moderated the first presidential debate on Sept. 29.
Several Facebook posts being shared widely on the social media platform offer an explanation why: He was cozy with the late financier and sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, and there are pictures to prove it.
"Chris Wallace with Jeffrey Epstein on pedophile island," one post says, referring to the private island Epstein owned. "I wonder why there was bias during the debate."
"Chris Wallace with Epstein, now you get it," another says.
The posts each show a different photo of Wallace — one getting help climbing onto a boat, and another by the water. But the photos don’t show Jeffrey Epstein with the Fox News anchor — they show Wallace on vacation in Lake Como, Italy, where he and his wife were visiting George Clooney’s home in August 2012.
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These posts were flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
Both images are shown in this Politico interview with Wallace after the trip.
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"He’s a heck of a nice guy," Wallace said in the interview, later adding, "He’s liberal … and we don’t always agree on the issues, but we can disagree agreeably."
More photos from that trip can be seen here and here. Jeffrey Epstein is not pictured, nor is he mentioned in news coverage.
Because he wasn’t there. We rate these posts Pants on Fire!
Our Sources
Facebook post, Oct. 1, 2020
Facebook post, Oct. 2, 2020
The New York Times, Republicans sow doubts about debate fairness, Oct. 1, 2020
Politico, Chris Wallace on his vacation with George Clooney, Aug. 16, 2012
Popsugar, George Clooney and Stacy Keibler keep the Como time coming, Aug. 10, 2012
Mail Online, All aboard the love boat! Aug. 9, 2012
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No, that’s not Epstein with Chris Wallace. It’s George Clooney.
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