<p>A federal court on Monday halted the prison sentence for Douglas Mackey, who was convicted earlier this year of election interference for posting memes that <a href="https://www.memedefensefund.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mocked</a> Hillary Clinton voters to cast their ballot via text during the 2016 presidential election.</p>
<p>Mackey was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-supporter-douglass-mackey-sentenced-to-7-months-in-prison-over-voting-memes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused</a> of a &#8220;scheme to deprive individuals of their constitutional right to vote&#8221; after a Twitter account he ran under the handle &#8220;Ricky Vaughn&#8221; posted memes in the lead-up to the election. In October, Judge Ann M. Donnelly of Federal District Court in Brooklyn sentenced Mackey to 7 months in prison, a $15,000 fine, and two years probation.</p>
<p>However, Judge Omar Williams of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reportedly overruled the appellate court in granting a motion for bond pending appeal, according to Mackey.</p>
<p>&#8220;This ruling is huge because it means that the appeals court decided that my appeal presents &#8216;substantial&#8217; and &#8216;debatable&#8217; issues of law that, if resolved in my favor, will result in my conviction being vacated,&#8221; Mackey <a href="https://twitter.com/DougMackeyCase/status/1731775057184100848" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;The prosecution, on the other hand, argued that my appeal was frivolous and that this was a typical election crime case like any other in U.S. history. This is a very encouraging step towards vindication.&#8221;</p>
<p>Mackey was charged one week after President Joe Biden assumed office and roughly four years after the 2016 election. The Justice Department claimed that Mackey had conspired to &#8220;injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate&#8221; people from exercising their right to vote. Prosecutors said that he and others had &#8220;intended variously to provoke, mislead, and, in some cases, deceive voters in the 2016 presidential election&#8221; with their posts.</p>
<p>The Justice Department said that Mackey had worked with other influential Twitter users between September 2016 and November 2016 to &#8220;disseminate fraudulent messages&#8221; which persuaded voters for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to cast their ballots via phone or social media.</p>
<p>One image showed a black woman standing in front of an &#8220;African Americans for Hillary&#8221; sign and said, &#8220;Avoid the Line. Vote from Home,&#8221; and &#8220;Text &#8216;Hillary&#8217; to 59925.&#8221;</p>
<p>According to the government, some 4,900 people texted the number, but it&#8217;s unclear how many people, if anyone, fell for the meme and did not cast the vote they intended to cast; or were merely participating in the joke.</p>
<p>Hillary Clinton <a href="https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-prison-sentence-of-douglass-mackey-stayed-by-federal-court-pending-appeal?utm_campaign=64506" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> celebrated the arrest, saying Mackey&#8217;s meme went &#8220;from what you would consider free speech &#8230; to running a very deliberate effort to mislead people about where and how to vote. So it went from speech to action meant to subvert the election because thousands of people who they targeted through their algorithms, &#8216;oh I could text my vote for Hillary Clinton.'&#8221;</p>
<p>Mackey said if he loses the appeal in the Second Circuit, he intends to take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.</p>
<p><em>Leif Le Mahieu contributed to this report.</em></p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Douglas Mackey’s Meme-Related Prison Sentence Halted By Federal Court

CONTINUE READING

New Mexico Lawsuit Accuses Meta Platforms Of Enabling Child Sexual Abuse Material, Human Trafficking

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused Of Sex Trafficking, Raping Teenage Girl In Fourth Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Mayorkas Confirms FBI Warning, Says Blinking Red Lights Everywhere On Terror Threats

California Retailers Without ‘Gender Neutral’ Section For Kids Face Fines Up To $500 Under New State Law

WATCH: Top University Presidents Balk When Asked If Genocidal Chants Against Jews Violate Codes Of Conduct

Catholic Leaders Slam FBI Over ‘Illegitimate Targeting” Of Catholics As Bureau Defends Its Investigation

News

2016 Election

Donald Trump

Hillary Clinton

Memes

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Douglas Mackey’s Meme-Related Prison Sentence Halted By Federal Court