Current:Home > StocksTwitter influencer sentenced for trying to trick Clinton supporters to vote by text-LoTradeCoin
Twitter influencer sentenced for trying to trick Clinton supporters to vote by text
View Date:2024-12-23 19:45:54
Douglass Mackey, the social media influencer known as "Ricky Vaughn," was sentenced Wednesday to seven months in prison for falsely assuring supporters of Hillary Clinton they could cast their vote in the 2016 presidential election through text messages or social media posts.
Mackey was prosecuted under the Ku Klux Klan Act that was enacted during the Reconstruction era in response to efforts by the KKK to prevent recently emancepated Blacks from voting.
Ahead of Mackey's sentencing, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly denied Mackey's attempt to set aside the verdict or be granted a new trial.
MORE: Hillary Clinton swipes at Trump, Putin during portrait unveiling
Mackey was 26 years old in 2015 when he began posting on Twitter under the pseudonym "Ricky Vaughn," amassing 51,000 followers on Twitter and ranking among the "most influential voices" posting about the 2016 presidential election, according to a list compiled by M.I.T.
Federal prosecutors in New York said Mackey was intent on originating hashtags designed to "cause as much chaos as possible" by creating "controversy ... for the sole purpose of disparaging Hillary Clinton."
At 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 1, 2016, Mackey published the first tweet that falsely announced that people could register their vote by texting on their phones, according to trial testimony. Additional tweets followed.
According to court records, one tweet featured an image of a Black woman in front of a poster for "African Americans for Hillary," with a message saying, "Avoid the line. Vote from home," along with a number to text.
Another tweet featured an image of Clinton with the tagline, "Save Time. Avoid The Line. Vote from home," with the text number.
Other tweets included the hashtags #ImWithHer and #GoHillary.
The defense argued that the text-to-vote scheme could not have fooled anyone, and that the timing of Mackey's tweets a week before Election Day refuted the claim that he meant to trick voters.
"The defendant weaponized disinformation in a dangerous scheme to stop targeted groups, including black and brown people and women, from participating in our democracy," said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. "This groundbreaking prosecution demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who commit crimes that threaten our democracy and seek to deprive people of their constitutional right to vote."
veryGood! (29)
Related
- 'Climate change is real': New York parks employee killed as historic drought fuels blazes
- Alexandra Daddario shares first postpartum photo of baby: 'Women's bodies are amazing'
- Gun groups sue to overturn Maine’s new three-day waiting period to buy firearms
- Amazon Black Friday 2024 sales event will start Nov. 21: See some of the deals
- FC Cincinnati player Marco Angulo dies at 22 after injuries from October crash
- Ryan Reynolds Clarifies Taylor Swift’s Role as Godmother to His Kids With Blake Lively
- At age 44, Rich Hill's baseball odyssey continues - now with Team USA
- What do nails have to say about your health? Experts answer your FAQs.
- Ben Foster Files for Divorce From Laura Prepon After 6 Years of Marriage
- Inspector general finds no fault in Park Police shooting of Virginia man in 2017
Ranking
- Question of a lifetime: Families prepare to confront 9/11 masterminds
- Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X
- The Latin Grammys are almost here for a 25th anniversary celebration
- The Office's Kate Flannery Defends John Krasinski's Sexiest Man Alive Win
- ‘COP Fatigue’: Experts Warn That Size and Spectacle of Global Climate Summit Is Hindering Progress
- US overdose deaths are down, giving experts hope for an enduring decline
- Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas says he was detained in airport over being ‘disoriented’
- Get $103 Worth of Tatcha Skincare for $43.98 + 70% Off Flash Deals on Elemis, Josie Maran & More
Recommendation
-
Asian sesame salad sold in Wegmans supermarkets recalled over egg allergy warning
-
Amazon Best Books of 2024 revealed: Top 10 span genres but all 'make you feel deeply'
-
Investigation into Chinese hacking reveals ‘broad and significant’ spying effort, FBI says
-
NYC bans unusual practice of forcing tenants to pay real estate brokers hired by landlords
-
Mississippi man charged with shooting 5 people after not being allowed into party
-
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had mild stroke this month, team says
-
Mike Tomlin's widely questioned QB switch to Russell Wilson has quieted Steelers' critics
-
Crews battle 'rapid spread' conditions against Jennings Creek fire in Northeast