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Fake indictment claiming George Soros arrested goes viral in latest far-right election conspiracy

<p>George Soros at the World Economic Forum in January 2020</p> (AFP via Getty Images)

George Soros at the World Economic Forum in January 2020

(AFP via Getty Images)

Contrary to a fake indictment circulating on conservative social media, billionaire philanthropist George Soros was not arrested on Monday.

A right-wing website falsely reported that Mr Soros - long a boogeyman in conservative and anti semitic conspiracy theories - was arrested in Philadelphia for election interference.

The website included a photoshopped indictment as well as a claim that a judge had ordered a "publication ban," preventing US-based media from reporting on the ruling.

That is fictional; judges cannot stop reporters from reporting on a case, they can only order that individuals involved with the case refrain from speaking to the media.