Are you kidding me, CNN? With zero evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, the network decided to track down Trump supporters and pretty much ask them if they’re Russian agents. Or better yet publicly shame them for exposing them as being had by the Russians in light of the recent indictments handed down by the Department of Justice last week that shut down a troll farm (via WaPo):
A Florida woman who ran a Trump supporters page that unwittingly promoted a Russian-coordinated event on Facebook says she doesn’t believe that she was influenced by Kremlin-linked trolls https://t.co/DmgDRFRwyn pic.twitter.com/OAz5julCyA
— CNN (@CNN) February 21, 2018
The Justice Department’s special counsel announced a sweeping indictment Friday of a notorious Russian group of Internet trolls — charging 13 individuals and three companies with a long-running scheme to criminally interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The Internet Research Agency, based in St. Petersburg, was named in the indictment as the hub of an ambitious effort to trick Americans online into following and promoting Russian-fed propaganda that pushed 2016 voters toward then-Republican candidate Donald Trump and away from Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
The indictment charges that the Russian efforts began in 2014, when three of the Russian conspirators visited 10 states, gathering intelligence about U.S. politics. Officials say that as the operation progressed, the suspects also engaged in extensive online conversations with Americans who became unwitting tools of the Russian efforts. The indictment does not accuse the Russian government of involvement in the scheme, nor does it claim that it succeeded in swaying any votes.
“There is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity. There is no allegation in the indictment that the [Russians'] conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election,” said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, so why was CNN’s Drew Griffin at the home of Florine Gruen Goldfarb, who reportedly was an unwitting accomplice in a scheme that some on the Left are likening to Pearl Harbor and 9/11 attacks. Okay—let’s be clear on this; it wasn’t. The Russian interference campaign was not effective. It didn’t tilt the election per the DOJ and no American knowingly helped the Russians. So, what the hell is this? (via The Hill):
Goldfarb runs a Facebook page called “Team Trump Broward County.” According to CNN, the page shared multiple events that were planned by Russians during the 2016 election, as well as posting photos and videos from one of the events after it concluded.
Goldfarb denied any Russian influence, telling the network that the people who attended the events were simply supporters of then-candidate Trump.
“Those people who were with me were all Trump supporters,” she told CNN. “Very, very much so.”
When a CNN reporter told her the events were planned by Russians posing as Americans, Goldfarb responded “BS.”
“Please report that I don’t believe that. It’s bulls---,” she said. “I know all the people that were with me. They were at my meetings. They were all Trump supporters.”
“Did you guys realize that you were in communication electronically with Russians?” the reporter asked.
Lost respect for @DrewGriffinCNN over this hack job. Harassing an old lady who, whether or not her group was targeted by Russian trolls, obviously had no idea she was dealing with Russians. https://t.co/x9NCAxAWsI
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) February 21, 2018
This lady rightly puts this CNN reporter in his place. "GTFO," is her main message. Maybe she should show up at CNN HQ and ask why they covered a Kremlin-sponsored rally in NYC. https://t.co/x9NCAxAWsI
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) February 21, 2018
This is nuts. A woman living in her suburban home doesn’t deserve this badgering. She didn’t mastermind the conspiracy and she’s not a public official or a person known to the public. https://t.co/yMCLtajx0X
— Yashar Ali ?? (@yashar) February 21, 2018
Ms. Goldfarb denies that she was duped into helping the Russians, despite CNN’s apparent public shaming with this clip. Maybe that wasn’t the intention of the segment, but given the facts here—there really is no reason for anyone to track down members of a pro-Trump Facebook group and try to see if they’re agents of the Kremlin. Were they really unwitting participants? That seems to be what the network is desperately trying to pry out of this poor woman. As some have already noted, these aren't public figures, they're not sleeper agents, they're not key players in some master intelligence operation. It's totally absurd.
CNN tracks down random people, accuses them of being Russian dupes because they were members of a Facebook group, and then acts flabbergasted that there's animosity toward the media https://t.co/9GtgCX55oU
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) February 21, 2018
CNN reporters going to peoples homes and asking them if they are Russian spies won’t backfire at all
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) February 21, 2018
If we’re being honest, CNN just should have said did you know you were duped into helping Russia sink Hillary’s presidential hopes in the election. How dare you! Also, do you know you’re pretty much a traitor? Some folks on social media noted how this puts the news media in an awful light. They just can’t let it go.
Just a quick reminder that this is literally what we're now being told is equivalent to Pearl Harbor pic.twitter.com/gVX6ToVbkl
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) February 19, 2018
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