Allegedly, the Infamous Black Activist's Social Media Account, which Propagated Anti-Harris Conspiracy Theories, Was Managed by a White Individual.
Recent right-wing conspiracy theories have stirred up the online sphere, focusing on Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her partner, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Two prominent instances of these theories can be traced back to an account known as "Black Insurrectionist," initially displaying an African American war veteran's profile picture. A new report by the Associated Press suggests that the individual behind this account is not of Black descent and has a complex legal background.
The Associated Press alleges that a white man named Jason G. Palmer is directly associated with the "Black Insurrectionist" account, which exists under the handle @DocNetyoutube. This account has been linked to the spread of false information such as the claim that Walz was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor, as well as boosting the claim that Harris' campaign engaged in collusion with the ABC news network before the 2024 debate with Donald Trump, during which Trump underperformed significantly.
After the AP contacted Palmer, the account was deactivated. However, the Wayback Machine's documentation reveals its previous appearance:
© X/DocNetyoutube/screenshot
The AP managed to establish a connection between an email address depicted in one of the videos posted by the "Black Insurrectionist" account and Palmer. The video showed the account user's computer screen, and Palmer's email address was visible in the background of the desktop, according to the report. The AP then collaborated with an open-source investigation company to tie the email address to a phone number.
When questioned about his involvement with the account by the AP, Palmer acknowledged his association but provided inconsistent statements. He claimed to have previously owned the account but sold it in April or May to an unidentified individual. Palmer further suggested that the account was primarily managed by a Black friend of his, but refused to divulge this individual's identity or grant the AP permission to make contact.
More intriguingly, Palmer mentioned that he worked as a "researcher" for a larger group. "We did that with big people. National people," he shared with the newspaper. Palmer remained silent on any other details concerning the group.
The immediate method of reaching Palmer was unclear. Additionally, the AP mentioned that Palmer had a history of legal complications and had previously been involved in a "real estate venture" that resulted in a chain of lawsuits.
The report from the Associated Press suggests that Palmer might use his role as a "researcher" for a larger group in the future to spread misinformation, leveraging technology and the internet. Despite the deactivation of the "Black Insurrectionist" account, Palmer's past actions, including his involvement in the spread of false information about Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, have raised concerns about the abuse of tech and technology in politics.
