McAfee for president? Antivirus software pioneer boasts skills to halt America’s ‘collapse’ from poor cyber security
The international fugitive makes 30-second pitch in New York and is ready to take message to Orlando at national convention for Libertarian party. But is he for real?
The New York state Libertarian party convention was held in New York City on Saturday. It started at 10am. It grew lively at noon, the hour John McAfee showed up.
The antivirus software mogul and one-time international fugitive turned into presidential hopeful, and he arrived at the convention dressed like an ageing rocker: blond streaks in his hair, aviator sunglasses hooked into the neck of his white T-shirt and a flamboyant paisley scarf draped around his neck.
I would win the general election. Because I know who I am, I know my talents, and I know what my limits are. And I’ve been around long enough to know people’s minds
McAfee, who infamously went on the run from Belize police in 2012 after being named as a “person of interest” in a murder case, would later tell The Guardian he never goes out at night for fear that the government of Belize might try to “whack” him.
That threat aside, the 70-year-old seemed to be enjoying himself as he overshadowed the rest of Libertarian party nominees at the convention in the East Village. He was in the city to debate his fellow hopefuls, including the party’s 2012 candidate, Gary Johnson.
Johnson achieved the party’s best ever election result last time round, winning 1.2 million votes – 0.99 per cent of the vote nationally. He’s a popular man. But there was no doubting who was the star on Saturday.
Rather than immediately enter the convention – held in the backroom of the restaurant – McAfee posted up outside, having his photograph taken with Libertarians and passersby, smoking cigarettes and acting up for the four-person film crew he had arrived with.