Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack arrived in Logan to speak at Utah State University's graduation despite false rumors of his arrest. (Photo courtesy of Utah State University)
LOGAN, Utah — The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is really speaking to graduates at Utah State University today, despite a rumor that he’d been arrested. That report has been dismissed as false, a “satire” report from a right-wing website.
The Logan Herald-Journal reports the rumor originated with the website Real Raw News. It said Vilsack was being held by the military on a charge of treason based on a series of recent fires at meatpacking plants. The site includes a disclaimer saying its reports are “satire.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a statement to Farm Journal saying there’s no truth to the claim.
“I can confirm he was not,” a USDA spokesperson told the media outlet earlier this week. “This appears to be disinformation.”
Vilsack will speak to more than 4,000 USU graduates at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum today. He’ll receive an honorary degree along with philanthropist Lisa Eccles and former State Senator Lyle Hillyard.