Fact check: CNN graphic related to Ghislaine Maxwell trial and Jeffrey Epstein has been altered

Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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The claim: Screenshot of a CNN graphic shows Justin Trudeau as a passenger on Jeffrey Epstein's plane

The federal sex-trafficking trial of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, accused of helping convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sexually exploit underage girls, began Nov. 29.

The sensational trial made headlines across the world, particularly as Larry Visoski, Epstein's former pilot, identified high-profile individuals who flew on Epstein's private plane. Some on social media ran with those claims as well.

A Facebook post shared Dec. 3 includes a purported CNN graphic identifying six passengers Visoski supposedly named: Britain's Prince Andrew, former presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, astronaut and former Sen. John Glenn, and actor Kevin Spacey.

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"So this is about the Jeffery Epstein’s pedophile ring," reads the caption of the post. "During the trial one of Epstein’s pilots took the stand and named these people as people that accompanied Jeffery Epstein’s on his private plane."

The post generated close to 1,700 shares in less than two weeks.

But the image is altered.

Trudeau is not part of the graphic originally broadcast on CNN.

USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who posted the image for comment.

Live footage shows George Mitchell

Lauren Bobek, spokesperson for CNN, told USA TODAY in an email the image is fake.

The Facebook user appears to have taken a screenshot of a graphic from a Nov. 30 broadcast of "CNN Newsroom with Ana Cabrera."

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The original graphic shows former Sen. George Mitchell in the fourth spot from the left, according to an internet archive.

The picture in the post was digitally altered to replace Mitchell with Trudeau.

CNN reporter Kara Scannell also highlighted during the broadcast that Epstein's former pilot said the high-profile passengers included Prince Andrew, Clinton, Trump, Mitchell, Glenn and Spacey, according to a transcript. "Now none of these have been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the issues at trial," Scannell also said during the broadcast.

There was no mention of Trudeau as one of the passengers.

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According to a CNN article, Visoski would "typically be given notice if Clinton or high-profile passengers like him would be flying." USA TODAY did not identify any credible reports that Trudeau flew on Epstein's plane.

USA TODAY reached out to Mitchell and Trudeau for comment.

Our rating: Altered

Based on our research, we rate ALTERED a purported CNN graphic that lists Trudeau as a passenger on Epstein's plane. The original graphic that CNN aired was changed to replace Mitchell with Trudeau.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: CNN graphic related to Maxwell trial has been altered