Twitter troll’s election interference trial delayed after alleged witness intimidation

Douglass Mackey is an online right-wing troll who faces Criminal For alleged misconduct 2016 Election His trial was delayed because his lawyer alleged that an anti-hate group intimated a witness to withdraw his testimony.

Mackey is famous for his…” Major League-referencing handle “Ricky Vaughn” After he was arrested for creating a viral, he gained notoriety. Tweet It is impossible to instruct users via text message to cast their ballots in the presidential election.

PRO-TRUMPTWITTER TWITTER TROLL CARGED WITH SPREAKING VOTER INFORMATION IN THE 2016 ELECTION

Mackey’s trial was scheduled to begin on March 16, but it was postponed at Mackey’s counsel’s request. This was due to a Southern Poverty Law Center article about George Hawley (an associate professor of political science at the University of Alabama).

The SPLC is a civil rights monitor that monitors alleged extremism. However, it has drawn criticism from some right-wing critics who believe the group calls certain Christian or conservative organizations “extremist” by labelling them as such. “hate groups.” This group was the most recent to make headlines. An SPLC lawyer After a mob attack at Atlanta’s, she was charged for domestic terrorism “Cop City” Training facility

Andrew Frisch, Mackey’s lawyer, claimed the article by Luke O’Brien (a freelance journalist) has not been published. “unfairly disparages” Hawley, and is partially based upon the professor’s “private emails.”

“Mr. O’Brien waited until the start of trial to submit written questions to Professor Hawley in an apparent attempt to paint him as an extremist, including questions based on private emails which Mr. O’Brien obtained, simultaneously asking Professor Hawley if his employer, the University of Alabama, is aware of his proffered testimony at Mr. Mackey’s trial,” Frisch Submitted In a letter, request to delay the trial for at least 14 days.

Frisch responded to the SPLC unpublished report by telling U.S District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis, that Hawley requested to withdraw his name from the witness list.

“For these reasons, I have no choice but to request a short adjournment of trial so that I may endeavor to identify a replacement expert witness,” Frisch wrote.

Mackey was also using his social media platform for spreading racist and antisemitic stereotypes to his thousands of Twitter followers. He was then banned.

While the Justice Department didn’t name Mackey as a candidate Mackey was trying harm, his account was well-known for its pro-Donald Trump and anti-Trump views.Hillary Clinton bent and for spreading conspiracy theories such as “PizzaGate.” Prosecutors say he used Twitter to spread false memes encouraging Clinton supporters vote by texting and posting a particular number to transmit the vote.

The complaint referred to a tweet he had previously sent from his account in which he posted a message on Twitter. Say it, “The key is to drive up turnout with non-college whites, and limit black turnout.”

Prosecutors claimed that at least 4,900 phone numbers were used to send the fake number to voters in 2016 as part of an alleged misinformation campaign.

Mackey was released on a $50,000 bond and will be back in court January 2021. He faces the unusual charge of conspiracy to violate rights. This makes it illegal to conspire. “oppress” Oder “intimidate” Anybody may not exercise a constitutional rights. This charge can result in a maximum sentence up to 10 years imprisonment.

Mackey has been awarded Support Twitter CEO Elon Musk agreed to a post by another user that his charges for the vote via text joke were “concerning.”

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Mackey’s online supporters have also pointed out a second tweet from Kristina Wong. She made a joke post encouraging Trump supporters to text their votes, but was never charged.

The judge who presided over the case gave a tentative adjournment for opening statements to Monday, March 20, 20.