Reports of Pat Leahy's death are greatly exaggerated

Not even the Joker could get Pat Leahy, so don't buy the e-mail hoax claiming he died. (Photo from The Dark Knight)

Phony e-mails are being sent to news organizations claiming that Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has passed away. Don’t buy it — Leahy is still alive and kicking. My Army Times colleague Rick Maze says that the Senate’s IT department is now trying to track down the source of the fraudulent e-mails.

Politico reports that the Capitol Police are also investigating the e-mails, which were “spoofed” to look like they came from Leahy’s office and claimed Leahy died of liver cancer. Politico said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., also were erroneously reported dead by fake e-mails.

Sen. Robert Byrd is still dead.

Oh, and in case you’re confused by the above photo of noted Batman fanboy Leahy being threatened by the Joker, it’s from this scene in The Dark Knight. Leahy’s continuing non-dead status will presumably keep him in the running for another cameo in Batman 3.

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