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Fact check: False claim that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was arrested by military

BrieAnna J. Frank
USA TODAY

The claim: The military arrested Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack 

Rumors that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was arrested by the military have swept across social media in recent days.

The claim was made in an April 29 story by Real Raw News, which has published numerous fabricated reports of high-profile arrests in the past.

The story claims investigators with the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps arrested Vilsack on April 26 in connection with what it described as the “calculated destruction” of food processing facilities around the country. PolitiFact reported in April that there was no evidence to suggest the fires were intentional or part of a ploy to trigger a nationwide food shortage. 

Its website says Real Raw News fights for “truth and freedom of the press” but notes that it “contains humor, parody and satire.” The article about Vilsack was not explicitly labeled as such. 

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Government entities have said the claim is untrue, including the supposed arresting agency. And Vilsack has appeared at numerous events since the date of his alleged arrest. No reputable news outlets have reported that Vilsack was arrested. 

Real Raw News did not return USA TODAY’s request for comment. 

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

Vilsack present at meetings after date of alleged arrest

USDA spokesperson Kate Waters said the claim was false in a May 2 email to USA TODAY, noting Real Raw News' history of fabricated reporting.

Patricia Babb, public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, also called the claim “inaccurate.” The corps provides legal advice "to support military operations and sound naval administration," according to its About Us page.

Vilsack’s public calendar also shows several events both on and after April 26, which media coverage and video show he participated in.

The following day, Vilsack tweeted about hosting U.K. Environment Secretary George Eustice. An industry publication also reported on the meeting.

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Vilsack also appeared at a virtual budget hearing held by the House Appropriations Committee and streamed live on its YouTube channel on April 28. According to Axios, Vilsack also had a closed-door meeting with Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, that day.

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Additionally, Vilsack can be seen in photos from a May 2 meeting with Dominican Republic Agriculture Minister Limber Cruz that the USDA posted on its Flickr account. 

Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that the military arrested U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Both the USDA and the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps denied the claim, and Vilsack has been seen on several occasions since the date of the alleged arrest.

Our fact-check sources: 

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