A parade float featuring convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein turned heads during New Orleans Mardi Gras celebrations on Friday.
The float, featuring a giant effigy of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton strangling an orange-jumpsuit clad Epstein, was reportedly a part of the Le Krewe d'Etat parade on Friday. The float also included a sign reading "Epstein Didn't Kill Himself," and a group of jumpsuit-clad men in gray wigs wearing nooses around their necks followed close behind.
Epstein, who was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019, has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories due to his association with powerful political figures, including the Clintons, President Donald Trump and Prince Andrew.
The phrase "Epstein Didn't Kill Himself," has morphed into a meme in the months since his death. Numerous cable news guests and fans at sporting events have yelled the phrase on live TV in recent months. The phrase has also popped up on electronic signs around the country.
Epstein's death remains under investigation. No law enforcement agency has implicated the Clintons in Epstein's death.
The Epstein didn’t kill himself float. Cc: @HillaryClinton pic.twitter.com/1t7EUEoZUf
— Paul Blair (@gopaulblair) February 22, 2020
Le Krew d'Etat is one of the dozens of "krewes" — or social groups — that stage parades in New Orleans in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras. Members of each krewe pay annual dues, which are used to reserve the parade route and create floats.
According to Mardi Gras New Orleans, the Krewe d'Etat was founded in 1996 and traditionally stages its parade on the Friday before Mardi Gras along St. Charles Avenue.
NOLA.com reports that Krewe d'Etat's floats are often full of political satire. The 2020 parade theme was "The Dic Goes to Mardi Gras."
Other floats during the Krewe d'Etat parade prominently featured Ed Orgeron, the head coach of the national champion LSU football team.