Seth Rich's Family Speaks Out On DNC Staffer's First Death Anniversary Amid Murder Conspiracy

Seth Rich's family issued a statement late Sunday to mark the Democratic National Committee (DNC) staffer's first death anniversary Monday.

Circulating conspiracy theories, especially in right wing circles and media outlets, suggest Seth was murdered to cover up the truth about how WikiLeaks obtained tens of thousands of hacked Democratic Party emails.

However, the family decried the "continual push of false and inaccurate information about Seth's death."

"On the anniversary of the passing of our son and brother, we are again feeling the deep loss of this senseless act," the family said, in the statement, adding: "Please cease using Seth as a political football in predetermined partisan narratives. The continual push of false and inaccurate information about Seth's death, along with the harassment of Seth's friends, family and co-workers, hurts those who were closest to Seth, and does nothing to bring justice to his killers.

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On Monday, silent vigils have been planned across the nation to mark the anniversary. Organizers of the vigils in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, St. Louis, Miami, Louisville, Detroit, San Diego, Cleveland and Washington, D.C have asked attendees to dress in patriotic colors as a theme for the event. The D.C. vigil will be held at the Spirit of Justice Park at 4 p.m. EDT.

“We believe it’s going to be a nice event for the ‘spirit of justice’ in Washington, D.C.,” organizer of the D.C. vigil, identified as Kelly, said. “We are seeking the support and feedback of the general population. We are not having speakers, so this isn’t about people grandstanding. There is no political agenda. It’s about a young man whose life was taken.”

Rich, who worked as a voter expansion data director at the DNC, was shot twice in the back while walking home in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Northwest Washington, D.C.. At the time, police linked Rich's death to a botched robbery case. However, doubts were raised over the cause of death as many speculated the 27-year-old was killed in retaliation for aiding leak of DNC emails that Wikileaks published ahead of the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The rumor was later fanned when Wikileaks offered a $20,000 reward for information on the murder of Rich.

In May, conspiracy theories surrounding Rich's death re-emerged after hacker Kim Dotcom said the former was a Wikileaks source.

“I knew Seth Rich. I know he was the @Wikileaks source. I was involved,” Dotcom tweeted on May 20. I'm meeting my legal team on Monday. I will issue a statement about #SethRich on Tuesday. Please be patient. This needs to be done properly.”

Fox News host Sean Hannity retweeted Dotcom’s message, writing: “Stay tuned. Public invitation Kim Dotcom to be a guest on radio and TV. #GameChanger. Buckle up destroy Trump media. Sheep that u all are!!”

Hannity, who is among several other conservative journalists who supports the conspiracy theory, said on his show in May: "I totally and completely understand how upset and how hard this is on this family, especially over the recent coverage of Seth's death. I've been communicating with them. I got a very heartfelt note. I also sent them a heartfelt note back."

Rich's family issued a statement after Hannity’s announcement. “The Rich family thanks Sean Hannity for respecting their wishes by not giving a venue to conspiracy theorists which would prolong the pain and anguish they have felt over the past week, and many months since Seth’s murder. We hope that Mr. Hannity will … allow law enforcement to investigate this tragedy,” the statement read.

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In an op-ed published in the Washington Post, Rich’s parents, Mary and Joel, criticized the conspiracy theories surrounding their son’s death.

“The circumstances of what happened next are still unclear. … Law-enforcement officials told us that Seth’s murder looked like a botched robbery attempt in which the assailants — after shooting our son — panicked, immediately ran and abandoned Seth’s personal belongings,” Rich’s parents wrote. “We have seen no evidence, by any person at any time, that Seth’s murder had any connection to his job at the Democratic National Committee or his life in politics. Anyone who claims to have such evidence is either concealing it from us or lying.”

“Still, conservative news outlets and commentators continue, day after painful day, to peddle discredited conspiracy theories that Seth was killed after having provided WikiLeaks with emails from the DNC. Those theories, which some reporters have since retracted, are baseless, and they are unspeakably cruel,” they added.