slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

By Alan Smith, Business Insider.

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's eldest son is slamming the wild conspiracy theories about his father's death on Saturday at the age of 79.

"It’s, I think, a distraction from a great man and his legacy at a time when there’s so much to be said about that and to help people even more fully appreciate that," Eugene Scalia said on Laura Ingraham's radio show Wednesday. "And, on a personal level, I think it’s a bit of a hurtful distraction for a family that’s mourning."

He added that his father "would have been the first to tell you ... that we’re from dust, we return to dust, your life could be taken from you at any instant."

"He lived this incredibly full and active life," he continued. "But I knew, and he knew, that he was at a place in life where he could be taken from this world at any time."

He said the Scalia family "has no doubt" he died of natural causes. "And we accept that," he said. "We’re praying for him. We ask others to accept that and pray for him."

Conspiracy theories surrounding Scalia's sudden death have circled the internet in the days since.

The predominantly right-wing conspiracy theorists who believe foul play might have been involved point out that Scalia's cause of death has not been officially determined and an autopsy was not ordered.

Some note that Scalia was pronounced dead over the phone and was reportedly found later with a pillow over his head.
Others point out that Scalia had declined a security detail for his weekend visit to the Cibolo Creek Ranch in Texas, which led to him being alone at the time of his death.

The theories first began to swirl after John Poindexter, who owns the ranch where Scalia was staying, said he found the jurist under a pillow, although he looked "as if he was taking a nap."

"We discovered the judge in bed, a pillow over his head. His bedclothes were unwrinkled,” he told the San Antonio Express-News.
Poindexter later told CNN the pillow was over his head, "not over his face as some have been saying."

"The pillow was against the headboard and over his head when he was discovered," he added. "He looked like someone who had had a restful night's sleep. There was no evidence of anything else."

Without having seen the body, Presidio County Judge Cinderela Guevara pronounced Scalia dead over the phone, which is allowed in Texas, and told a Dallas TV station that he died of a "myocardial infarction," known as a heart attack. She would later walk back that claim to The Washington Post and said she was only aware that his heart had stopped, not that he suffered a heart attack. She then said Scalia underwent an MRI last week and was suffering from multiple conditions.

Indeed, a US marshal on the scene said it wasn't necessary to observe the body in person, Vox reported, and law enforcement officials made clear to Guevara that no foul play was evident.

A manager at the funeral home Scalia's body was taken to, moreover, told the Post that his family didn't want an autopsy performed — a choice that has been heavily scrutinized.

"If it had been me … I would want to know," Juanita Bishop, a justice of the peace in Presidio, told the Post.

.

archie bunker Loc: Texas

The family's wishes should be respected, I think. An autopsy would have helped quell a bunch of this garbage. I think that it should have been done, considering the position that he held.
I am sure he just came to the end of his run though. It is common.
My Granddad fell over dead at the kitchen table while paying bills. True story! We have a friend who lost their 32 year old son. He went to sleep, and didn't wake up. Aneurysm. I kind of understand the other side though. With today's political climate, nothing is surprising!

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

Without a doubt respect Justice Scalias' family. Respect Justice Scalia he is not here to defend himself. Several individuals and buisnesses are flying flags half staff in his honor

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Deservedly so. Like him or not, the man served his country for 30 years as an Associate Justice on the SCOTUS.

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

:thumbup: :thumbup: Respect is in order and is due. Public service is not an easy job. I know I have been doing just that for a long time now. I am in my third term.

cornelius Loc: NEBRASKA

Is the son a democrat?
Dr. CJC

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Eugene Scalia joined, in 1990, a very conservative D.C. law firm which included Ken Starr and Ted Olsen. Although my limited research points to him being a republican/conservative, I found nothing to absolutely pin his political leanings. Judge Scalia had nine children...Five boys and four girls. The no autopsy decision is reported to have been the entire family's wish. Eugene simply had been chosen as spokesman. :|

BTW, Cornelius, welcome to OPP. :thumbup:

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

Welcome Cornelius.

:D :D :D :D