California Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Adam Schiff are demanding Facebook and Twitter take action against ‘Russian bots’ pushing the hashtag #ReleaseTheMemo.
- Last week, a four page memo detailing Obama administration abuse of FISA warrants against the Trump campaign was circulated within the US House of Representatives
- Amid calls from several Congressional Republicans, the hashtag #ReleaseTheMemo went viral across social media
- In an effort to downplay public concern, a “Russian propaganda” tracking website used primarily by Democrats has suggested that the #ReleaseTheMemo hashtag went viral thanks to Russian bots
- California Reps. Dianne Feinstein and Adam Schiff sent a letter to Facebook and Twitter CEO’s on Tuesday, demanding that they take action against the “Russian bots”
- Meanwhile, Twitter’s internal analysis of the hashtag has thus far found that authentic American accounts, not Russians, are driving #ReleaseTheMemo
Zerohedge.com reports: Despite 63 GOP lawmakers petitioning for the release of an explosive four-page memo detailing FISA warrant abuse against the Trump campaign, California Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Adam Schiff have fired off an embarrassing letter to the CEO’s of Twitter and Facebook, imploring the social media giants to take action against Russian bots pushing the hashtag #ReleaseTheMemo. (Feinstein, ironically, #ReleasedTheTranscripts of closed-door Congressional testimony by Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson in early January in an effort to influence public opinion).
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Using information gleaned from the “Alliance for Securing Democracy” propaganda website which supposedly tracks 600 Twitter accounts “linked to Russian influence operations” and counts Neocon Bill Kristol as an advisor – the letter from Feinstein and Schiff reads in part:
Dear Mr. Dorsey and Mr. Zuckerberg:
We seek your companies’ urgent assistance. Public reports indicate that accounts linked to the Russian government are again exploiting Twitter and Facebook platforms in an effort to manipulate Public opinion. These recent Russian efforts are intended to influence congressional action and undermine Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation…
…we seek your assistance in our efforts to counter Russia’s continuing efforts to manipulate public opinion and undermine American democracy and the rule of law…
…Several Twitter hashtags, including #ReleaseTheMemo, calling for release of these talking points attacking the Mueller investigation were born in the hours after the Committee vote. According to the German Marshall Fund’s Alliance for Securing Democracy, this effort gained the immediate attention and assistance of social media accounts linked to Russian influence operations. By Friday, January 19, 2018, the #ReleaseTheMemo hashtag was “the top trending hashtag among Twitter accounts believed to be operated by Kremlin-linked groups.” Its use had “increased by 286,700 percent” and was being used “100 times more than any other hashtag” by accounts linked to Russian influence campaigns. These accounts are also promoting an offer by WikiLeaks to pay up to $1 million to anyone who leaks this classified partisan memo.
If these reports are accurate, we are witnessing an ongoing attack by the Russian government through Kremlin-linked social media actors…
…We understand Facebook at Twitter have developed significant expertise in identifying inauthentic and malicious accounts. Further, your forensic investigations into Russian government exploitation of your platforms during the 2016 U.S. election have helped expose to the American public the vast extend of Russia’s covert influence efforts. We therefore request that your companies conduct an in-depth forensic examination of this real-time activity on your platforms…”
That said, contrary to the ASD’s Russophobic website, by The Daily Beast claims that internal Twitter sources confirm that the #ReleaseTheMemo hashtag has been pushed by actual Americans.
a knowledgeable source says that Twitter’s internal analysis has thus far found that authentic American accounts, and not Russian imposters or automated bots, are driving #ReleaseTheMemo. There are no preliminary indications that the Twitter activity either driving the hashtag or engaging with it is either predominantly Russian.
In short, according to this source, who would not speak to The Daily Beast for attribution, the retweets are coming from inside the country.
The source pointed to influential American users on the right, including Donald Trump Jr., with his 2.49 million followers, pushing the hashtag forward. It’s become a favorite of far-right Republican congressmen, including Steve King, who claimed the still-secret memo shows the FBI was behaving “worse than Watergate” in one viral tweet. Mark Meadows called it an “absolutely shocking” display of “FISA abuses,” referring to a counterintelligence process.
And then there’s this:
https://twitter.com/B75434425/status/955854062972538880
Meanwhile, the Kremlin’s reach must know no bounds – as GOP lawmakers have been fervently pushing for the release of said memo…
Earlier this morning, I examined the classified, four-page memo from @HouseIntelComm regarding the FBI, DOJ, and the so-called #RussianCollusion. To put it simply, “WOW.” I joined the call to #ReleaseTheMemo. Americans deserve truth and transparency. pic.twitter.com/r2RJnLNaUL
— Rep. Jody Hice (@CongressmanHice) January 19, 2018
Just read the classified doc @HPSCI re FISA abuse. I'm calling for its immediate public release w/relevant sourced material. The public must have access ASAP! #Transparency
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) January 18, 2018
The classified report compiled by House Intelligence is deeply troubling and raises serious questions about the upper echelon of the Obama DOJ and Comey FBI as it relates to the so-called collusion investigation.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 18, 2018
While the report is classified as Top Secret, I believe the select committee should, pursuant to House rules, vote to make the report publicly available as soon as possible. This is a matter of national significance and the American people deserve the truth.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/joshdcaplan/status/954246572208017410
In response to the Democrats’ latest attempt at diversion, people are mocking Feinstein and Schiff, as they should:
https://twitter.com/PoliticalShort/status/955838571797098496
#MondayMotivation is a Russian plot to destroy American democracy according to the ever ridiculous 'Hamiliton 68'. But don't worry, Senator Feinstein and Congressman Schiff will surely call for a Congressional investigation. https://t.co/Q1iCzGKx4W pic.twitter.com/G0mP3oPRAY
— Defend Assange Campaign (@DefendAssange) January 23, 2018
Hey Schiff and Feinstein..
Keep trying to distract from the actual memo with your "muh Russian bots" hysteria.
The American people can see right through it. https://t.co/d5KREmsCBm
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) January 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/mitchellvii/status/955904666042236929
https://twitter.com/drawandstrike/status/955910723602874373
Pathetic indeed. The letter can be read in its entirety below:
Sean Adl-Tabatabai
Why are Jews afraid of Russia?
Sure wish Trump would simply de-classify the darn memo so we can move on with this! Too many insiders already know about it, releasing it o the public will only increase sentiments to see the guilty pay for their crimes. So, by not releasing it, is this an honor amongst thieves play, or what!?