Trump campaign official: Hillary will be dead within a year and be replaced by VP Tim Kaine – and wonders why she would possibly wear a 'wool coat in August' 

  • John E. Jaggers runs the Trump campaign in Maryland and battleground Northern Virginia 
  • Calls Hillary Clinton 'very sick' 
  • Cites theory that Clinton wore a coat on Nantucket to cover up medical devices 
  • 'How many of you would wear a wool coat in August?' 
  • Suggests VP running mate Tim Kaine will be president 'for eight years' if Clinton gets elected 
  • Clinton joked with talk host Jimmy Kimmel Monday about how she still has a pulse 

A an official who is running operations in a key battleground for Donald Trump's presidential campaign is predicting that Hillary Clinton will be dead within a year – and claims Clinton is covering up an undisclosed illness with 'wool coat' she wore on Nantucket Island.

John Jaggers, who runs Trump operations in Maryland as well as the population center of Northern Virginia, raised the deadly-serious issue at a gathering called Women4Trump in Virginia's tony horse country community of Middleburg.

Jaggers, who is also a Tea Party leader, made the startling statement about Clinton's morbidity while also floating a theory that suggests there is more than just sartorial discretion behind Clinton's decision to sport a long coat on a recent trip to Nantucket to raise campaign cash.

He apparently was referencing an online rumor that Clinton's garment might be being used to cover up a mystery illness. 

'How many of you would wear a wool coat in August?' Jaggers asked at the resort event, the Loudoun Times-Mirror reported.

CHILLY RECEPTION?: Hillary Clinton wore a coat during her Sunday visit to Nantucket, Massachusetts, but why?

CHILLY RECEPTION?: Hillary Clinton wore a coat during her Sunday visit to Nantucket, Massachusetts, but why?

'The woman who seeks to be the first female president of the United States wears a wool coat at every single thing. Have you ever stopped to wonder why? It's a big deal, folks,' Jaggers added.

Then he continued with his unsourced opinion about Clinton's health – taking a page from Trump, who has said Clinton lacks the 'stamina' to be president and has mocked for for excessive sleeping. 

'This woman is very, very sick and they're covering it up. You're not so much talking about Hillary Clinton being president for eight years – you're talking about Tim Kaine being president for eight years,' he said, mentioning Clinton's running mate, a Virginia native. 'Because that's what we're dealing with here.'

Jaggers may have been referencing a tweet that followed Clinton's appearance on Nantucket August 21, when Twitter user Mike Cernovich wrote: 'Wool coat and black pants in August? Yeah sick Hillary is TOTALLY NOT HIDING any medical devices.' Cernovich describes himself as an author, lawyer, free speech activist, and documentary film maker.

COVERUP? Clinton sported a mid-length quote in Nantucket on Sunday, but some women wore dresses that left their shoulders exposed

COVERUP? Clinton sported a mid-length quote in Nantucket on Sunday, but some women wore dresses that left their shoulders exposed

Trump campaign official John E. Jaggers even suggested that Clinton will die within the year, and that running mate Tim Kaine could serve for eight years as president. He accused Clinton of 'covering it up'

Trump campaign official John E. Jaggers even suggested that Clinton will die within the year, and that running mate Tim Kaine could serve for eight years as president. He accused Clinton of 'covering it up'

Trump official John Jaggers is only the latest member of Trump's team to raise issues about Clinton's health

Trump official John Jaggers is only the latest member of Trump's team to raise issues about Clinton's health

An Accuweather forecast listed the low temperature on Nantucket at 61 degrees, but that fails to account for any wind chill on the one-time whaling hub.

At the event, Clinton can be seen wearing a mid-length coat with a pea coat design and a leopard print pattern. It couldn't be discerned from photographic evidence whether Clinton was wearing a heavy coat or more of a windbreaker.

Clinton's campaign has begun to push back aggressively against comments from Trump supporters intended to raise questions about her health.

Clinton herself joked about the matter Monday night in an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's show, when she let the TV host take her pulse. Clinton then showed her fitness by opening a pickle jar.

'I do feel sometimes like this campaign has entered into an alternative universe,' Clinton said. 'I have to step into the alternative reality and, you know, answer questions about, am I alive, how much longer will I be alive, and the like,' she said, before pronouncing herself 'healthy as a horse.'

Among the emails that have surfaced through State Department releases is one from longtime friend Sidney Blumenthal to Clinton after she fell and hit her head in 2009. ''Hope you are resting comfortably' he wrote Clinton. 'Please take this as an excuse to get much needed rest,' he advised. 

New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani stoked conspiracy theories on Sunday when he said on Fox News, 'Go online and put down 'Hillary Clinton illness,' take a look at the videos for yourself.'

Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon shot back: 'Google Rudy and health and you can read about how he withdrew from '00 Senate race against Clinton.' 

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