Taco Bell and Putin

[tw]

From the Columbus Dispatch of 11 Dec 2006:

PUTIN DENIES BEING ‘ANYWHERE NEAR’ TACO BELL
Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out today at accusers who have pointed the finger at him in recent days for the outbreak of E. coli infections at several Taco Bell restaurants in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Putin, already on the defensive over accusations that he poisoned former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive sushi, held a news conference at the Kremlin to offer his categorical denial of any involvement in the Taco Bell poisonings.

"I have not been anywhere near Taco Bell," a visibly angry Putin told reporters. "Anyone who says I have done so is trading in pure fantasy."

But despite Putin’s vehement statements to the contrary, several restaurant managers of the Taco Bell chain said that they saw a balding man resembling the Russian president skulking around their restaurants in recent days.