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Appeals court throws out right-wing influencer’s conviction for 2016 election interference

EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, JUL 9 – The Second Circuit ruled there was insufficient evidence that Douglass Mackey knowingly conspired to suppress votes despite 5,000 people following his meme’s false instructions, court records show.

  • On Wednesday, a federal appellate panel in Manhattan overturned Douglass Mackey's 2023 conviction for conspiracy against rights, ordering a lower court in Brooklyn to acquit him due to insufficient evidence that he conspired to influence the 2016 election.
  • Mackey was found guilty after federal prosecutors charged that, during the period from September to November 2016, he worked with others to disseminate false memes intended to mislead Democratic voters about how to cast ballots for Hillary Clinton.
  • The conspiracy involved memes telling about 5,000 people to vote by text or social media, but trial evidence showed no proof that Mackey's posts caused anyone to fail in properly voting.
  • A three-judge panel wrote that posting memes with intent to harm voters is not enough to prove conspiracy without evidence Mackey knowingly joined an agreement, stating, "This the government failed to do."
  • The ruling resulted in an acquittal order, with Mackey welcoming the decision and threatening legal action against the Justice Department over his conviction.
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Townhall broke the news in Washington, United States on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
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