Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Pro-Trumpers' Latest Bonkers Theory Involves Biden Hiring A Mob Boss Named 'Skinny Joey' To Fabricate Ballots

Pro-Trumpers' Latest Bonkers Theory Involves Biden Hiring A Mob Boss Named 'Skinny Joey' To Fabricate Ballots
Alex Wong/Getty Images; JIM WATSON/Getty Images

The latest conservative conspiracy theory trying to explain why Donald Trump lost the 2020 election involves infamous Philadelphia mob boss "Skinny Joey," who they claim was hired by Joe Biden to fabricate thousands of ballots.

The already-debunked conspiracy theory was spread online by Jordan Sekulow, the son of prominent Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow.


Of course, the claim has no basis in reality. "Skinny Joey" Merlino himself even weighed in to say he's not cooperating "with anybody," including Biden.


For good measure, Merlino's lawyer even threw in this statement:

"My client categorically denies all the allegations and Joey would rather die than ever be a snitch."

According to the false theory, Merlino was paid $10 per ballot and worked with a team for 60 consecutive hours to create 300,000 illegal ballots for Joe Biden.

Merlino thought the people claiming these things were "out of control."


On Twitter, the "Skinny Joey" conspiracy theory was mercilessly mocked by everyone with sense.


After reading about his alleged involvement in the election, Merlino reportedly told his lawyer:

"These people are crazy!"


Even Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who's well known for peddling many insane conspiracy theories, felt the one involving "Skinny Joey" may be a bit too much to believe.

Giuliani commented:

"There is an allegation about a mobster, but I think it's a far-fetched one."


Merlino is currently serving a "supervised release" sentence in Florida after striking a plea deal in 2018. He has been reportedly "out of the mob life" since 2013.

Though "Skinny Joey" notably endorsed Trump's hatred of "snitches" in 2017, his support of the President stops there.

More from People/donald-trump

Miriam Margolyes
David Levenson/Getty Images

'Harry Potter' Star Miriam Margolyes Offers Mic Drop Explanation For Why Respecting Pronouns Matters

Sometimes it is just that easy to make people happy. This is a lesson learned over and over in our lives, but that's because it's an important one.

Actor Miriam Margolyes shared how she learned to change her behavior to make others happier. Margolyes appeared on The Graham Norton Show recently and brought up a fairly polarizing subject in the United Kingdom: trans people.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk looks on during a public appearance, as the billionaire once again turns a newsroom style decision into a culture-war grievance broadcast to millions on X.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk Cries Racism After Associated Press Explains Why They Capitalize 'Black' But Not 'White'

Elon Musk has spent the year picking fights, from health research funding to imagined productivity crises among federal workers and whether DOGE accomplished anything at all besides leaving chaos in its wake.

His latest grievance, however, is thinly disguised as grammatical. Specifically, he is once again furious that the Associated Press (AP) capitalizes “Black” while keeping “white” lowercase.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk; Yale University School of Engineering and Applied Science
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images; Plexi Images/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Elon Musk Gets Brutal Wakeup Call After Claiming That Yale's Lack Of Republican Faculty Is 'Outrageous Bigotry'

Elon Musk—who has repeatedly whined about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)—took to his social media platform to whine about a lack of conservative faculty at Yale University.

Musk shared data compiled by The Buckley Institute (TBI), a conservative-leaning organization founded at Yale in 2010. TBI found 82.3% of faculty self-identified as Democrats or primarily supporting Democratic candidates, 15% identified as independents, while only 2.3% identified as Republicans.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barry Manilow
Mat Hayward/Getty Images

Barry Manilow Speaks Out After Postponing Farewell Tour Dates Due To Lung Cancer Scare

"Looks Like We Made It" singer Barry Manilow is in the process of saying goodbye to the stage and meeting his fans in-person, but he has to press pause for a few months after receiving a jarring diagnosis.

On December 22, 2025, the "Mandy" singer posted on Facebook, explaining that a "cancerous spot" had been discovered on his left lung.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame, the last time audiences saw Captain America before his unexpected return was teased for Avengers: Doomsday.
Disney/Marvel Studios

Marvel Just Confirmed That Chris Evans Is Returning For 'Avengers: Doomsday'—And Fans Have Mixed Feelings

Folks, once again, continuity is more of a suggestion than a rule in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel has officially confirmed that Chris Evans is returning as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday, and the internet has responded exactly how you’d expect: screaming, celebrating, arguing, and a very justified side-eye toward how Sam Wilson keeps getting treated.

The confirmation comes via a teaser now playing exclusively in theaters ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash. There is no official online release, despite leaks circulating. If you didn’t catch it on the big screen, Marvel’s response is essentially: sorry, guess you had to be there.

Keep ReadingShow less