CLAIM: Angela Chao, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s sister-in-law, who died in February, had been CEO of the company that owns Dali, the container ship that crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. Chao was the chair and CEO of her family’s shipping business, New York-based Foremost Group. Dali is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and managed by Synergy Marine Group, both of which are based in Singapore. Danish shipping giant Maersk said it had chartered the vessel.
THE FACTS: Social media users are falsely claiming that Chao, who died in Texas after driving into a pond on Feb. 10 while intoxicated, is connected to the collapse of the Key Bridge, suggesting that her death appears suspicious in light of the incident in Baltimore.
One X post states that Chao “was the CEO of the shipping company that owned the massive cargo ship that hit the Key Bridge & caused its collapse just 24+ hours ago.”
Poland arrests sabotage suspects and warns of potential hostile acts by Russia
Peng Liyuan Meets with DRC's First Lady
Autumn scenery of imperial Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing, E China
Xi Story: A Rural Street Food's Recipe for Success
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Intl beer festival to open in Qingdao WCNA
Xi Focus: Xi Charts Course for China
China's air passenger trips to reach 9 million during May Day holiday
Massey, Perez hit homers to lead Royals in 8
Thailand welcomes 1st Chinese tour groups in 3 years