Trump-Hating, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Cartoonist Arrest on Child Porn Charges

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Darrin Bell, the cartoonist who made this, was just arrested with child porn on his computer

— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) January 16, 2025

According to a report by The Washington Post, acclaimed cartoonist Darrin Bell, known for his work with the publication and creator of two daily comic strips, was taken into custody due to allegations involving inappropriate content related to child sexual abuse.

Award-winning political cartoonist Darrin Bell was taken into custody in California on accusations of possessing explicit content involving minors, with some of the material suspected to have been produced artificially by advanced technology, according to authorities.

49-year-old Bell was apprehended at his residence and taken into custody at the Sacramento County jail, following the uncovering of over a hundred videos linked to child sexual exploitation traced back to an account that Bell operated.

The Sacramento County sheriff’s office reported that detectives from their Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program had been alerted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a person who had posted 18 files with content of child sexual abuse or pornography. Further investigation led these detectives to find that 134 videos of such material were uploaded by an account linked to Bell.

On a chilly Wednesday, I found myself standing outside Bell’s residence, as law enforcement officials executed a search warrant within its confines. Inside, they unearthed incriminating evidence linked to the ongoing case – disturbing material generated by artificial intelligence depicting child pornography, as the sheriff’s office later confirmed. The revelation left me stunned and disheartened at the dark corners that our society seems to harbor.

[…] This was the initial arrest made by the Sacramento Valley’s Internet Crimes Against Children detectives unit concerning an individual in possession of AI-created content, following the implementation of a new California law that considers such possession as a criminal act, as stated by the sheriff’s office.

Regardless of one’s views on AI, it’s appalling and disgraceful to imagine someone as esteemed as Mr. Bell engaging in such vile, obscene activities. The fact that he possesses illegal content undeniably calls for his immediate arrest and subsequent prosecution. I sincerely hope that he serves a significant prison sentence for his actions.

One of Bell’s well-known creations includes “Candorville,” a daily comic series set in a city, showcasing young characters of African American and Latino descent. This nationally distributed comic strip has been compiled into books, offering commentary on social and political issues. In addition, he co-created “Rudy Park,” another syndicated comic strip that focused on current events but is no longer in production.

For now, the comic strip “Candorville,” found on The Post’s website and in both daily and Sunday editions, as well as syndicated by King Features, has been temporarily taken off the comics lineup. However, it will still be published in the January 19 Sunday comics section due to production deadlines.

According to a statement released on Thursday, Counterpoint Media has temporarily halted Bell’s involvement in their daily newsletter contributions. However, rebroadcasts of “Rudy Park” will still be disseminated at present.

It would be best to halt any future releases of his daily comic strips, and refrain from purchasing reprints. Ideally, we can assume that his publishers have ceased reproducing his work already. Here are some hints about his political leanings:

Initially, Bell honed his skills at the University of California, Berkeley, by creating cartoons that graced the pages of their student-run newspaper, the Daily Californian.

In 2019, he achieved the distinction of being the first African-American journalist to receive the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. His award-winning cartoons that year focused on issues impacting marginalized communities, exposing falsehoods, hypocrisy, and corruption within the political chaos surrounding the Trump administration, as recognized by the Pulitzer Prizes.

2023 saw artist Darrin Bell producing a visual memoir titled “The Talk,” which explored the impact of racial injustice and pivotal childhood experiences on shaping one’s adult life. On Thursday, Macmillan, the book’s publisher, issued a statement expressing awareness of Darrin Bell’s arrest. They find these allegations troubling and are treating this matter with utmost gravity. At present, they are letting due process unfold and will respond appropriately as more verified information becomes available.

The Sacramento Bee also notes:

In my own work, I was praised by Pulitzer judges for my bold and captivating editorial cartoons. These pieces addressed the challenges faced by marginalized communities across the nation, as well as the political turbulence that swirled around the early years of the Trump administration.

And the Washington Free Beacon says:

In the year 2023, Bell released “The Talk”, a compelling graphic memoir that delved into police brutality and racial inequality in contemporary America. Bell revealed that the book was sparked by the tragic death of George Floyd in 2020, urging parents to have open conversations with their children about race relations in the United States, as it’s essential for them to understand these issues and lose some of their innocence.

It appears that Mr. Bell has a strong lean towards liberal ideologies, having studied at an institution known for its progressive slant. Consequently, it’s not unexpected that his comic work and art could be heavily influenced by such ideologies. Notably, there are suggestions of anti-American sentiments in his work. Unfortunately, his career is seemingly coming to an end, leaving a negative impact on the leftist movement due to his controversial actions. Moreover, his persistent criticism of Trump is noteworthy. The New York Post additionally points out:

A concerning cartoon that Bell had created was shared to his X account in 2022 and reappeared on a social media platform following his arrest. Named “The Groomer,” it depicts an elephant-like character exposing himself to a group of children, with a storefront mirror revealing the word “BIGOTRY” tattooed on its chest.

And the U.S. Sun has more:

49-year-old cartoonist Darrin Bell, renowned for his cartoons comparing Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, has found himself in a disturbing predicament. He’s been accused of distributing more than 100 vile images, generated by artificial intelligence, that depict child sexual abuse.

[…] Bell was quite active on social media platforms, primarily using them to share his political works on his Substack, known as “Disobey in Advance,” by Darrin Bell.

In the sketch he frequently posted on Instagram, he portrayed Trump as a character resembling Adolf Hitler, delivering a speech from a podium.

Standing on the platform, he sketched a design similar to the Nazi Party emblem, yet it featured a tilted capital T instead of the familiar swastika.

In a different picture, Bell showed Trump as frustrated due to the poor showing of MAGA-backed candidates in the 2022 midterm elections.

In the cartoon, the artist portrayed the alleged “Red Wave” as if it were a squirted ketchup bottle that splashed against a wall, causing a commotion behind a startled president.

At that point, viewers were thoroughly enjoying Bell’s sketches. A fan even remarked, “This is great! It made me laugh out loud,” referring to the comic depicting the president’s immature outburst.

Now, Bell’s arrest and arrogant demeanor has sparked a strong response, as enraged users deluge his comment section with demands for fairness.

This person certainly deserves jail time, and let’s be careful around kids,” said an angry user in response.

It’s quite astonishing to reflect on the fact that for several years, you labeled Trump and his followers as rapists, groomers, and Nazis.

“Meanwhile, you were just arrested for creating and distributing child pornography.”

And other users blasted Bell for “tarnishing” his work and his disturbing alleged crimes.

A different user angrily commented, “It’s necessary for someone to discuss this matter with their children regarding individuals like you.

Incredible… the level of hypocrisy is astonishing. He criticized conservatives in his cartoons for being “groomers,” but he seemed oblivious to the fact that he was acting as one himself? Regrettably, there are far too many individuals like him who twist truth into Orwellian double-speak, plunging morality into a bottomless abyss.

With his career now behind him, let’s hope he serves time in prison for the painful actions he inflicted upon children.

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2025-01-20 17:31