Trolls beware, the US just indicted a bunch of Russians for trolling Americans on social media.

“At the same time, Defendants and their co-conspirators, through another ORGANIZATION-controlled group, organized a rally in New York City called “Trump is NOT my President” held on or about November 12, 2016. Similarly, Defendants and their co-conspirators organized a rally entitles “Charlotte Against Trump” in Charlotte, North Carolina, held on or about November 19, 2016.

almostsbs wrote:

The report also says they were busy supporting Berne ... but everyone managed to leave that out of their posts.

An announcement from special counsel Robert Mueller’s office said that the government accuses all the defendants of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Three defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Five defendants are charged with aggravated identity theft.

rojo wrote:

DiscoGary wrote:

I finally understand why the Russians were supporting Trump.

Great post.

It's times like this when you really understand what Plato was talking about re: the cave.

That's it?

A handful of Russians stole some identities and set up Facebook accounts and talked crap about Hillary?

That's the big smoking gun?

The Oligarchs who own our government and media have embarrassed themselves badly with this one. Or should have. I say should have because, per a number of the comments I see here, lots of folks refuse to admit to themselves this really is (to use the Dems own talking point) a "nothing burger".

Compare this with what America does in other countries.

DiscoGary wrote:

Which of us said many times that if Mueller had any proof that Trump colluded with Russia then we'd already know it? ....

Classic. From the guy who supports the party that required seven or eight investigations into Benghazi before they found out Hillary had used a private email server.

“From in or around 2014 to the present, Defendants knowingly and intentionally conspired with each other (and with persons known and unknown to the Grand Jury) to defraud the United States by impairing, obstructing, and defeating the lawful functions of the government through fraud and deceit for the purpose of interfering with the U.S. political and electoral processes, including the presidential election of 2016,” reads the indictment. The indictment claims these individuals posed as American activists and engaged with “unwitting” US persons in order to fine-tune their strategy. Additionally, several accused individuals committed identity theft, using illegally obtained social security numbers and driver license numbers to bolster the appearance of legitimacy and to place ads on various social media platforms.

During a press conference, Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein said, “There is no allegation in the indictment that any American was a knowing participant in the alleged unlawful activity,” adding “There is no allegation in the indictment that the charged conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election.”

Yeah that sucks about the Russians doing that but let's not forget a lot of Americans were dumb enough to fall for headlines and advertisements like the above lol.

Read this:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/06/sharing-fake-news-us-rightwing-study-trump-university-of-oxford?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Racket wrote:

rojo wrote:

Great post.

It's times like this when you really understand what Plato was talking about re: the cave.

Have you read "The Republic"? Plato was an elitist fascist moran, whose ideas laid the foundation for mass murder thousands of years later.

Have you heard of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle? MORANS! - Vicini

Gufyyffff wrote:

Yes rojo. The same guy who called complained about free speech. Deleted a few comments on this thread.

It's clear these 13+3 weren't actually as lone wolves.

So why isn't LRC complaining about "state-sponsored trolling" like it does with traitor Rodchenkov's deranged claims?

rojo wrote:

That's it?

We are indicting people for screwing around on facebook?

Does freedom of speech not apply to non-citizens even though we give all sorts of benefits to non-citizens like free public school?

Let's hope trolling on letsrun.com by foreign nationals isn't indictable.

I didn't read through the thread, so apologies if these points have already been brought up a dozen times.

1) This reads like someone hacked rojo's account. Among other things, we know rojo did not vote for Trump.

2) "Screwing around on Facebook" was NOT what they were indicted for.

"In a 37-page indictment filed in United States District Court, Mr. Mueller said that the 13 individuals have conspired since 2014 to violate laws that prohibit foreigners from spending money to influence federal elections in the United States.

"The indictment charges that the foreigners falsely posed as American citizens, stole identities and otherwise engaged in fraud and deceit in an effort to influence the U.S. political process, including the 2016 presidential race."

I'm a lot more upset that Russians fed a British spy disinformation that he in turn fed to the FBI, CIA, and DoJ, which then used it to justify spying on American citizens and an American political campaign! But apparently Mr. Mueller does not share my concern. I guess Facebook ads are the bigger threat.

I have no particular dog in this fight, but you are fools if you don't take this seriously. The Russians are doing the same in Europe, funding the far right (they are possibly also funding some left or far-left parties, I don't know). Not because they like them, but because they want to destabilize the EU. I would not take this lightly . The problem with Trump is not so much the actual policy changes he is implementing, but that he is undermining democracy with his disrespect for the rule of law, not giving up his business ties, letting his unqualified kids into the administration, etc etc.

You right wingers are hypocrites. You claim that you are the party that supports law enforcement and supports the rule of the law. If this is the case the shut the hell up and Let the FBI do its job

Stop demonizing the FBI, stop exposing your sheer ignorance on letsrun, stop engaging in conspiracy theories. Just let law enforcement do its job. If the indictment is bogus, the ACLU will shoot it down before any circuit court does. And remember Mueller is a republican and so was James Comey.

The problem here is that tramp expects absolute loyalty from his appointees. He expects them to help him bend the law because he has cheated and lied throughout his life.

Trump cheats on his spouses, he cheats in business (see trump universities) , he lies on the campaign trail. And he expects all his appointees including the FBI to lie for him. That's why conservatives are so pissed off at the FBI now.

When is Mueller going to indict the 3-5 million Mexican nationals who influenced USA elections, many of them by voting illegally?

ManOverboard wrote:

I'm a lot more upset that Russians fed a British spy disinformation that he in turn fed to the FBI, CIA, and DoJ, which then used it to justify spying on American citizens and an American political campaign! But apparently Mr. Mueller does not share my concern. I guess Facebook ads are the bigger threat.

things are not the same, in korea

Heh, Zakharova cleverly responded to the allegations with ... a Facebook post! :) Here is a translation, for you Russophobe Westerners.

Agencies are saying: "The US Department of Justice on Friday published a document stating that 13 Russian citizens have been accused of interfering in the presidential elections in the US in 2016. All the accused are employees of the Internet Research Agency, based in St. Petersburg. They are accused of organizing pre-election demonstrations in the United States, paying for the participation of "real Americans," the desire to discredit Clinton, Rubio and Cruz, to support Sanders and Trump .. "

The rest even read no strength.

They turned out to be 13, according to the US Justice Department. 13 people intervened in the elections in the US ?! 13 against billion-dollar budgets of special services? Against intelligence and counterintelligence, against the latest developments and technologies? .. Absurd? Yes. But this is a modern American political reality. By the way, why 13? Apparently, with the remaining figures there are no bad associations, but in this case they are all hope.

13 people against the entire mainstream media and both parties -- all of whom were trying to stop Trump.

Isn't this all just endless whining from sore losers?