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Join on Telegram Rabat – A man set himself on fire in Collect Pond Park yesterday near the Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial was underway.
The man was identified as Max Azzarello, a 37-year-old self-described “investigative researcher,” The New York Post reported. He was declared dead early Saturday.
Azzarello’s actions, which were a form of protest, were accompanied by a manifesto full of conspiracy theories targeting various aspects of society.
Azzarello, whose erratic behavior had reportedly escalated over the past year, tossed pamphlets into the air before pouring gasoline on himself and setting himself ablaze.
The pamphlets contained links to his Substack newsletter titled “The Ponzi Papers,” where he delved into a range of conspiracies, from cryptocurrency to Hollywood actors and COVID-19.
In his lengthy manifesto, Azzarello claimed that the government, along with “elites,” was orchestrating a totalitarian con that would lead to what he called a fascist world coup.
“This extreme act of protest is to draw attention to an urgent and important discovery: We are victims of a totalitarian con, and our own government (along with many of their allies) is about to hit us with an apocalyptic fascist world coup,” the manifesto read.
He accused both Republicans and Democrats of manipulating the public with existential crises to pave the way for a dystopian future.
Friday’s incident was not the first instance of Azzarello’s erratic behavior and public outbursts.
Just a day prior, he stood outside the courthouse holding a sign proclaiming “Trump is with Biden,” while shouting about an impending fascist coup.
Azzarello had filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court in 2023, naming several influential defendants, including former President Bill Clinton, billionaire entrepreneurs Mark Cuban and Richard Branson, and even the country of Saudi Arabia.
The lawsuit alleged an elaborate network of Ponzi schemes spanning decades. However, the case was ultimately dismissed in October 2023 due to Azzarello’s failure to follow up with required court filings.
NYPD officials labeled the incident as propaganda-driven, citing Azzarello’s online activities and social media posts as part of their ongoing investigation.
