Man Who Set Himself on Fire Outside Trump’s Money Trial Once Worked for Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi – A Tragic Turn of Events

Maxwell Azzarello, the man who set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former President Donald Trump’s money trial is being held, once worked for representative Tom Suozzi.

Souzzi (D-NY) is the representative who won the seat of former Representative George Santos (R-NY) after the latter was expelled from the House. Azzarello worked on Souzzi’s campaign for Nassau County executive in 2013, as reported by Fox News. Azzarello died Friday night, several hours after self-inflicted.

The New York City Police Department does not believe Azzarello was motivated by his affiliation with his political party. Azzarello had recently posted messages on social media about conspiracy theories and was photographed on April 18 in New York with a sign that read: “Trump is with Biden and they are going to give us fascist coup. “

Souzzi said he remembers Azzarello working on his 2013 campaign.

“Although I haven’t seen or spoken to Max since then, I remember him being very kind, understanding and hardworking. “It’s terrible that he succumbed to his injuries and I keep Max and his family in my prayers,” Souzzi said, according to Fox News.

According to the NYT, Azzarello threw a wine glass at former President Bill Clinton’s autographed wall at a local hotel. Two days later, he was in front of the hotel in his underwear, shouting into a megaphone.

“A really nice guy,” said Larry Altman, property manager of Azzarello’s apartment complex in Florida, according to the NYT. “He had political views that I would not have thought were dominant. He called our government and the world government a Ponzi scheme.”

Altman said that Azzarello was a respectful person who shook his hand when he met people. His beliefs in conspiracies appear to have developed in recent years and have led to social media posts expressing unorthodox views.

“Like frogs in boiling water, the public did not understand the rotten truth behind the illusion of freedom,” Azzarello wrote on Facebook, according to the NYT. He reportedly feared fascism and cryptocurrencies.

Azzarello entered a public space in Collect Pond Park, where protesters had previously gathered before jurors were seated in Trump’s trial. At approximately 12:30 p.m. CT, Azzarello threw a handful of fliers into the air and then doused himself with an alcohol-based accelerant before setting himself on fire. The act of self-control was accidentally caught on live television by Fox News and CNN.

Within minutes, emergency personnel arrived at the scene and attempted to render aid. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.