The LBT INTERVIEW: JOEL RICH
A candid conversation about the murder of Joel’s dear son Seth Rich and the right-wing conspiracy theorists that haunt his grieving family.
LBT:
What sort of son was Seth?
RICH:
[Sighs.] Oh, he was a great, great son. He was committed to diversity, social justice and more than anything else the election of our first female president.
LBT:
We will get to that, but what was he like growing up?
RICH:
He was always on the plump side. He doesn’t get that from me by the way. [Laughs.] He was a goofy kid; always playing with computers.
LBT:
How about his personality? What was that like.
RICH:
He was a sweet kid. He listened and did was he was told.
LBT:
Do you remember the last conversation you had with him?
RICH:
Sure. I’ll never forget. He said he was going to use all of his technical skills with computers to get Hillary the election. No matter what happened, Hillary had to win.
LBT:
What about this conspiracy theory appearing in the blogosphere that Seth wanted Bernie Sanders to win the nomination?
RICH:
I can’t believe that anyone would say that. Seth wanted a woman to win the presidency. He lived his life as a white male but he thought that too many white males had sent this country in the wrong direction decade after decade.
LBT:
Did Seth ever volunteer for the Bernie Sanders campaign?
RICH:
Do I have to repeat myself? He wanted Hillary all the way. Don’t listen to the conspiracy theorists. Don't listen to Fox News. He said over and over again to me on the phone, “Dad, the country has to move forward with Hillary” or “Dad, why is Bernie Sanders mucking up everything for Hillary”?
LBT:
Have you had any communications with the Democratic Party relating to the murder investigation?
RICH:
They have offered to help us cope with all these conspiracy theorists out there with counseling and PR work.
“Either Seth is a turncoat bastard or he got blown away by some street urchin or crackhead. What difference at this point does it make?”
LBT:
What message, if any, do you have for the conspiracy theorists?
RICH:
My son is dead. Nothing you say or do will bring him back. Either he was killed by some punk kids or someone had a damn good reason for shooting him down.
LBT:
What do you mean that someone had a damn good reason?
RICH:
I mean just that. If he got mixed up with that sonofabitch in Europe and started spreading confidential emails, then he had it coming to him. He was a grown man and has got to take responsibility for his actions just like anybody else.
LBT:
Why is the family trying to convince people to stop asking questions about the murder?
RICH:
Because frankly it's none of their damn business. Let me ask you, [have] you got any kids?
LBT:
I don’t see the relevancy to that, but I have a daughter.
RICH:
OK, what is your biggest disappointment with your daughter?
LBT:
Respectfully, I’m not sure what my daughter has to do with your son’s passing. That seems sort of personal.
RICH:
Well, so is this. Either Seth is a turncoat bastard or he got blown away by some street urchin or crackhead. What difference at this point does it make? I don’t care which. I would rather not know. That’s my preference and everyone else needs to live with that.
LBT:
Some people have made the argument that if Seth were murdered as part of a DNC cover-up than the public has an interest in learning about this. Do you have opinions about that?
RICH:
I sure do. Hold on a second. I wrote this bit down. [Pulls a folded piece of paper from his back pants pocket.] You have no idea of the magnitude of our family’s pain and anguish each time someone suggests an unfounded and unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that our dearest Seth was killed by someone associated with the Democratic Party or acting at the direction of the Democratic Party. I urge everyone who reads these words to stop thinking about the murder of our son so that the very capable District of Columbia Police Department can continue its tireless investigation. If you care at all about our feelings you will stop asking baseless questions and let the professionals do their job.
LBT:
That sounds very persuasive. Did you write that yourself?
RICH:
[Silence.]
LBT:
I am sorry I don’t mean to disrespect your space. Can you share with our readers any messages of hope that is come out of all this?
RICH:
Well, the [Democratic] Party family has been so good to us and we’ve met so many wonderful people. I’m going to be a Party consultant on a number of issues later this year when things start to quiet down.
