Max Azzarello, a 37-year-old man who lit himself on fire outside a Manhattan court during former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial, had a history of arrests in Florida. Police reports show that he was arrested in St. Augustine on charges of disturbing the peace and then arrested again three days later for damage to property and criminal mischief. During the second booking, police noted that he was suicidal. Azzarello was sentenced to 180 days of probation and released on October 3.
Prior to his arrests, Azzarello had made concerning social media posts, including one on Facebook where he claimed he spent three days in a psych ward. He also posted on Instagram about protesting, breaking unwritten rules, taunting cops, and embracing the homeless. Azzarello describes himself as an “investigative researcher” in online profiles, but his online activity indicates that he is more of a conspiracy theorist. Despite his family being unaware of his travels, Azzarello came to New York the week prior to self-immolating.
Before lighting himself on fire, Azzarello threw papers into the air which included printouts of a Substack newsletter titled “The Ponzi Papers.” The last entry was an article in which he stated he had set himself on fire outside the Trump trial. In the nearly 2,700-word manifesto accompanying the act, Azzarello mentions prominent figures and conspiracy theories. He had previously attempted to sue former President Bill Clinton, along with over 100 others, in a conspiracy-laden filing that was quickly thrown out in court.
Azzarello’s actions outside the Manhattan court were seen as an extreme act of protest to draw attention to what he believed was an impending fascist world coup orchestrated by the government and its allies. The posting on Substack included his name and claimed purpose for self-immolating. Azzarello’s arrest records list him as a resident of St. Augustine, Florida. His downfall and ultimate act were met with shock and confusion due to his sudden and extreme actions, despite prior signs of instability through his social media posts and legal troubles in Florida. It remains unclear what ultimately led Azzarello to take such drastic measures.
