Fact check: Ron Klain continues serving as chief of staff

Nate Trela, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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The claim: Ron Klain, White House chief of staff, was arrested

A Jan. 22 story by Real Raw News claims Ron Klain, chief of staff to President Joe Biden, was arrested.

“His announced impetus for stepping down – personal reasons – was a smokescreen,” the story says. "Klain discovered White Hats were on his tail and, fearing for his life, prepared to flee the United States immediately."

The post was shared more than 100 times on Facebook in eight days according to CrowdTangle, a social media analytics tool.

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Our rating: False

There are no credible reports of Klain being arrested. He is still listed as White House chief of staff, with his resignation expected to take effect in February. The claim comes from a website that routinely publishes false claims about the arrest of high-profile government figures.

No evidence, no credible reports of arrest

There is no evidence Klain was arrested. While the arrest supposedly happened Jan. 21, there is no mention of it in statements or news releases from the White House or credible news reports.

Biden announced on Jan. 27 that Klain would be stepping down as chief of staff. An exact departure date was not disclosed, but USA TODAY and others have reported it becoming effective after the State of the Union address on Feb. 7.

Biden’s statement lauds Klain as a “once-in-a-generation talent with a fierce and brilliant intellect.” Klain’s resignation letter also says he would like to work for Biden’s next campaign if he chooses to run for re-election.

In this file photo taken on June 30, 2021, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain attends a briefing on wildfires ahead of the wildfire season hosted by US President Joe Biden with cabinet members and government officials in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
In this file photo taken on June 30, 2021, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain attends a briefing on wildfires ahead of the wildfire season hosted by US President Joe Biden with cabinet members and government officials in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Klain has posted repeatedly to Twitter since the supposed arrest.

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Real Raw News is a serial spreader of misinformation that often publishes fabricated stories about "white hats" trying to undermine "the deep state" by arresting government officials. USA TODAY has debunked stories from the site claiming arrests of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and former FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn.

The site’s “About Us” page states it “contains humor, parody, and satire.” The notice, however, is not included in the website’s articles.

USA TODAY reached out to Real Raw News for comment.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: False claim White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain arrested