Russian Trolls Using NFL Protests to Sow Discord Online, Republican Senator Says

SEP 27 2017, 5:54 PM ET

Russian Trolls Using NFL Protests to Sow Discord Online, Republican Senator Says

by PHIL HELSEL and ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Republican on the Senate intelligence committee says Russian internet trolls are using the controversy over NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to stir up unrest in the United States.

Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma said Wednesday that the Russian troll farms were hashtagging "take a knee" and "boycott NFL" to amplify the issue. He said the effort involved "taking both sides of the argument" to increase divisiveness in the country.

Earlier this month, Facebook acknowledged hundreds of fake accounts, probably run from Russia, spent about $100,000 on ads aimed at stirring up divisive issues such as gun control and race relations during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

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Trump Denies Being More Occupied With NFL Than Puerto Rico 0:58


Lankford on Wednesday referenced what he called "the Russians and their troll farms and their internet folks” spreading dissent over the controversial protests during a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

"They were taking both sides of the argument this past weekend, and pushing them out from their troll farms as much as they could to try to just raise the noise level in America and to make a big issue seem like an even bigger issue as they’re trying to push divisiveness in the country," Lankford said.

Related: Trump 'Kneel' Attack Gives His Base Reason to Stand

"We've continued to be able to see that, we will see that again in our election time," he said.

Lankford also asked acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke if the department has the resources it needs to do on-site assessments of voting security for any state that requests it before the 2018 midterm elections.

Duke said that the department does have the resources, but not all states have asked for federal assistance yet.

The leaders of House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the election said Wednesday it will hold an open hearing with tech companies in October "in order to better understand how Russia used online tools and platforms to sow discord in and influence our election."

Over the weekend, players and even some coaches and owners around the NFL took a knee during the national anthem, stood locked arm-in-arm, or didn't emerge for "The Star-Spangled Banner" after President Donald Trump in vulgar terms called for players who kneeled during the anthem to be "fired."

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What NFL Fans Think Of Players Taking a Knee 1:30


Trump made his comments at a campaign rally for Sen. Luther Strange in Alabama, and further inflamed tensions with athletes by calling out the NBA champions Warriors’ Stephen Curry on Twitter and withdrawing an invitation for a White House visit.

Strange lost Tuesday's runoff in a landslide.

Several NFL team owners and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called Trump's comments divisive, and some owners called them "offensive."

The recent phenomenon of NFL players sitting or kneeling during the anthem was started last year by then San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who said he was taking a knee to protest police brutality against black people and racial injustice in general. Kaepernick is now an unsigned free agent.

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Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill on Aug. 18, 2017 in Washington. Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP file

Trump at the Friday rally in Huntsville also suggested that the players were being penalized too often for making aggressive tackles in which players "hit too hard."

Over the past several seasons, the NFL and college football have increased penalties and enforcement for illegal hits to the head and for hitting defenseless players. A July report on 202 former football players found evidence of a debilitating brain disease linked to repeated head blows in nearly all of them.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...enator-n805296

Russian-bought Black Lives Matter ad on Facebook targeted Baltimore and Ferguson

Former Democrat Congressman rips West Point grad behind pro-communist photos

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  Second Lt. Spenser Rapone is seen in an undated photo making a fist and holding a cap with a sign inside that reads, "Communism will win." (Twitter)
  

A U.S. Military Academy graduate who posed with a sign reading “Communism will win” and posted pro-Colin Kaepernick messages on social media is now being ripped by the former Democratic congressman who helped him get into the prestigious school.

Ex-Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, who served from 2007 to 2013, told The Daily Caller that Second Lt. Spenser Rapone – who is now the focus of an Army investigation – has let him down.

“Several years ago, I met Spenser Rapone when he was a high school student seeking an appointment to West Point,” Altmire said.

“At the time, he was an outstanding, well-rounded student who came from a good family. I have not been in touch with him in the years since the appointment, and I was shocked and extremely disappointed in the recent reports of his indefensible actions.”

To get into West Point, applicants must receive nominations, usually from U.S. politicians.

“While I strongly support the rights of American citizens to express their opinions, the actions of 2nd Lieutenant Rapone are abhorrent and appear to be in clear violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, in addition to being inconsistent with the values of the United States Military Academy. I have no doubt that the U.S. Army will take appropriate action,” Altmire told The Daily Caller.

The Army said in a statement Tuesday that “Rapone's chain of command is aware of his actions and is looking into the matter.” The photos began circulating online over the weekend.

Rapone’s father Richard, a treasurer in Lawrence County, Pa., also spoke out against his son in a now-removed Facebook post, according to The Daily Caller.

Richard reportedly said Spenser, who graduated in 2016, was not accepted into West Point right out of high school, but was approved after enlisting in the Army and serving in Afghanistan.

“It’s my belief when he returned back from Afghanistan there was a notable difference in his political views,” the news organization quoted Rapone as posting. “Spenser is my son and I love him dearly, however, I do not like nor condone his politics, his actions or behavior.”

Rapone’s communist sympathies are no secret, the New York Post reported. He once posted photos of himself holding Karl Marx's “Communist Manifesto” and a photo of One World Trade Center with him holding a communist red star on the top.

The "Communism will win photo" was hashtagged #veteransforkaepernick, citing the former NFL player whose national anthem protests have sparked a divisive movement this season.

But a veterans’ subgroup of the Democratic Socialists of America has come to his defense.

“Let there be no doubt that we have unequivocal solidarity with and pride in Spenser. He’s an exceptional soldier,” it posted on Twitter.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/09/28...st-photos.html

Llankford is proving himself an idiot on several levels. Shame! I think the people of Oklahoma had greater expectations of him than to fall head-first into the Russia hoax or run to the laps of illegal aliens for a pat on the head from people who aren't even supposed to be in our country let alone have special legislation to amnesty their wrong-doing including violations of our sovereignty and rule of law.

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Originally Posted by Judy

Llankford is proving himself an idiot on several levels. Shame! I think the people of Oklahoma had greater expectations of him than to fall head-first into the Russia hoax or run to the laps of illegal aliens for a pat on the head from people who aren't even supposed to be in our country let alone have special legislation to amnesty their wrong-doing including violations of our sovereignty and rule of law.

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Russia hoax? How would you personally know if there are or aren't Russian internet trolls attempting to push discord in our country? Honestly, I don't think it is out of the realm of believability.

Oh my God .... there are trolls on the internet from everywhere, there are American Trolls causing discord in our country, what do you think the Russia Hoax is all about to begin with? How are ads opposing illegal immigration even if posted by the Russians causing discord in our country? Americans hate illegal immigration, so do the Russians. That's why among many other reasons, we should be pals with Russia.

Americans aren't as stupid as you seem to think we are. We don't care what country you're from when exercising your free speech on the internet. We care what you say not where you're from. If 30 million illegal aliens in the United States can Twitter and Facebook, without a Congressional investigation, then Russia, China, Ukraine, or any other country in the world can Twitter and Facebook all day long if they want to without a Congressional investigation or any other investigation, as far as I'm concerned.

Twitter tells Congress it has suspended hundreds of Russia-linked accounts

Why secret Russian ads on Facebook are a worry for America

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Originally Posted by Judy

Oh my God .... there are trolls on the internet from everywhere, there are American Trolls causing discord in our country, what do you think the Russia Hoax is all about to begin with? How are ads opposing illegal immigration even if posted by the Russians causing discord in our country? Americans hate illegal immigration, so do the Russians. That's why among many other reasons, we should be pals with Russia.

Americans aren't as stupid as you seem to think we are. We don't care what country you're from when exercising your free speech on the internet. We care what you say not where you're from. If 30 million illegal aliens in the United States can Twitter and Facebook, without a Congressional investigation, then Russia, China, Ukraine, or any other country in the world can Twitter and Facebook all day long if they want to without a Congressional investigation or any other investigation, as far as I'm concerned.

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Okay, you admit that it's possible, so why all the other razzle-dazzle B.S.? Just agreeing that it is possible is all that's necessary.

The USA has influenced elections elsewhere by media. Russians are chess players and could see them trying to influence just as we have. They didn't mention a particular candidate but issues. Glad they did bring up those issues too. They spent a lot of money of those ads.

Exclusive: West Point Professor Who Mentored Antifa Soldier on Administrative Leave

by Kristina Wong28 Sep 2017

The West Point mentor of a soldier now under investigation by the Army for engaging in political activity while in uniform is on administrative leave, Breitbart News has learned.

The adviser is Rasheed Hosein, a professor of Middle East history, who was in charge of Second Lieutenant Spenser Rapone’s development at West Point. A West Point spokesman confirmed he is on administrative leave but said it is unrelated to Rapone. “We are unable to provide information regarding administrative actions but can confirm that the details are unrelated to 2nd Lieutenant Rapone,” the spokesman said.

At West Point, Hosein had mentored Rapone. The two apparently traveled together to India together in 2014 and maintained a close relationship until Rapone graduated in May 2016.

Also during that time, Rapone’s Facebook posts grew increasingly radical and leftist. Rapone’s activities caught the attention of command authorities this week after he posted photos of himself in his West Point uniform while promoting communism on social media.

On Sunday, Rapone posted a picture of himself in his West Point uniform holding a sign that said, “Communism will win” tucked under his cover, or hat, raising a clenched left fist. He tweeted the photo along with the words #VeteransForKaepernick — a reference to football player Colin Kaepernick, the first player to kneel during the national anthem at a football game to protest racism.

On Monday, Rapone tweeted another picture of himself in his West Point uniform, exposing a Che Guevara T-shirt underneath with the caption “In case there was any lingering doubt, hasta la victoria siempre.” It is against Army regulations to wear the uniform “in connection with the furtherance of any political or commercial interests” or when participating in “public demonstrations” unless authorized to do so.

After the photo garnered widespread attention on Twitter, West Point quickly issued a statement distancing itself from Rapone. “The U.S. Military Academy strives to develop leaders who internalize the academy’s motto of Duty, Honor, Country, and who live the Army values. Second Lieutenant Rapone’s actions in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army,” it said. “As figures of public trust, members of the military must exhibit exemplary conduct, and are prohibited from engaging in certain expressions of political speech in uniform,” it said. “The appropriate Command authorities are reviewing the situation,” an Army spokesman told Breitbart News.

The Army confirmed that Rapone graduated from West Point in 2016 and is now serving as a second lieutenant with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based in Fort Drum, New York. The unit issued its own statement that focused on uniform regulations. “Both the Department of Defense and the Army have longstanding policies encouraging soldiers to participate in the democratic process. However, the Army has strict rules regarding the wear and appearance of Army uniforms.”

Rapone’s activism while in uniform appears to be much broader than those two photos. On August 7, Rapone posted a photo on his Instagram account of himself in his Army uniform wearing a Democratic Socialists of America Membership nametag that says, “official socialist organizer.”

Rapone’s Instagram account was taken down Tuesday evening. Rapone has also tweeted a number of provocative statements, including calling Defense Secretary Jim Mattis “the most vile, evil f*ck in the current administration” on June 7 from Columbus, Georgia.

A spokeswoman for the 10th Mountain Division confirmed to Breitbart News that Rapone had started Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia — near Columbus — in February 2017 but did not complete the course.

On February 11, he posted an article titled “Know Your (Gun) Rights! A Primer for Radicals — IT’S GOING DOWN.” He also reposted a meme from a group called Anarchist People of Color criticizing “white privilege.”

Rapone posted on several forums in support of Chelsea Manning, the Army soldier who went to jail for leaking classified intelligence to WikiLeaks. He posted January 18 on Facebook, “May we all learn from her example of what integrity and strength of conviction truly entails.”

Sometime last year, he posted a picture on Instagram of an Antifa flag in his room next to a print of Che Guevara. “New room decor … until it’s flying proudly in the streets. #AntiFa,” he wrote, according to a picture obtained before he took down his account.

Rapone has also posted on Facebook a picture of himself holding up the Communist Manifesto, with his Army dress uniform hanging in the closet in the background and a number of posts showing opposition for Trump policies and administration officials and support for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at least since 2015.

His father, a local official for Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, issued his own statement, disavowing his son’s political views. “In regards to my son Spenser Rapone, I disavow his political views and overall politics. I am very disappointed in the direction he has chosen and as his father it greatly saddens me,” Richard L. Rapone posted on his Facebook page, adding: As a young man, Spenser personified patriotism and in high school was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He applied to be a West Point cadet and at that time he as not selected. He enlisted in the United States Army right out of high school. Later, he served as an Army Ranger and was deployed to Afghanistan on special mission. He applied once again to West Point and was accepted. It’s my belief when he returned back from Afghanistan there was a notable difference in his political views. Spenser is my son and I love him dearly however I do not like nor condone his politics, his actions or behavior. The elder Rapone’s Facebook page has been taken down as of Wednesday.

According to photos on Rapone’s Facebook page, he became close to Hosein, a Ph.D. in Islamic history from the University of Chicago. The two appear to have traveled together to the Taj Mahal in March 2014, according to pictures posted on his Facebook page. On March 18, 2014, Hosein posted on his Facebook page, “Back from the Taj [Mahal] and it delivered.”

Two days later, on March 20, 2104, Hosein posted a picture of himself, wearing a long tunic, and Rapone, wearing a turban and a long tunic, with the caption, “The brothers are gonna work it out.” On March 23, 2014, Rapone posted about anti-corporatism and racism.

On March 24, 2014, Rapone posted a picture of himself and Hosein in front of the Taj Mahal. Later that year, on August 19, 2014, Rapone posted a picture that showed them in a classroom with another soldier. “The Intelligentsia,” the caption read. Hosein was tagged in the picture, suggesting they were Facebook friends at the time.

A review of Rapone’s Facebook page shows that over time, since 2014, his posts became increasingly anti-racism, anti-Israel, pro-Muslim, pro-Communist, anti-military, and anti-police. On January 5, 2015, he posted a Slate.com article calling for the abolishment of West Point. As a Facebook friend since 2014, Hosein would have been aware of Rapone’s Facebook postings between 2014 and when he graduated in 2016. A search of Rapone’s page shows they are still Facebook friends.

Hosein’s bio on the West Point website lists Rapone as one of two cadets he last advised at West Point. Hosein began teaching at West Point in July 2011. Previously, he served as the director of Public Education for the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago. He was also Muslim Lay Chaplain at West Point, Officer in Charge of the Muslim Cadet Association, and Emeritus Facility Adviser of Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honor society of which Rapone was a member, according to a photo. Hosein brought Phi Alpha Theta members, including Rapone, to Orlando, Florida, for a national conference in February 2016.

According to popularmilitary.com, Rapone, 25, from New Castle, Pennsylvania, first enlisted in the Army in 2010 and was assigned to Fort Benning for basic training and infantry training. He completed Airborne school and a rigorous Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and was assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion in Savannah, Georgia. He then deployed to Afghanistan, where he earned a combat infantryman badge. He completed Air Assault School and then applied successfully to West Point.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...trative-leave/

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Originally Posted by MW

Okay, you admit that it's possible, so why all the other razzle-dazzle B.S.? Just agreeing that it is possible is all that's necessary.

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Admit what is possible?! That there are trolls on the internet? There are trolls on every website on the internet. There have always been trolls on the internet. Were you not aware of this fact? You act like this is some startling revelation, some shocking discovery, when it's a fact of life on the internet and has always been. Manufacturing a news story and Congressional investigations on the long-term well-known fact that there are trolls on the internet is absurd. Using these fake news stories to malign Russia over trolling is ridiculous. It's all a hoax, trying to convince Americans that free speech is dangerous. It reminds me of the anti-war protests during the Vietnam War, they blamed those on the Russians, too, when it was American college kids who didn't want to be drafted or have their friends and family drafted into a war they didn't think they would be allowed to win in a country they couldn't even find on a map.

Americans elected Donald Trump to be President of the United States and the Russians didn't have a damn thing to do with it.

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Originally Posted by Judy

Admit what is possible?! That there are trolls on the internet? There are trolls on every website on the internet. There have always been trolls on the internet. Were you not aware of this fact? You act like this is some startling revelation, some shocking discovery, when it's a fact of life on the internet and has always been. Manufacturing a news story and Congressional investigations on the long-term well-known fact that there are trolls on the internet is absurd. Using these fake news stories to malign Russia over trolling is ridiculous. It's all a hoax, trying to convince Americans that free speech is dangerous. It reminds me of the anti-war protests during the Vietnam War, they blamed those on the Russians, too, when it was American college kids who didn't want to be drafted or have their friends and family drafted into a war they didn't think they would be allowed to win in a country they couldn't even find on a map.

Americans elected Donald Trump to be President of the United States and the Russians didn't have a damn thing to do with it.

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Okay, enough of the patronizing attitude. We're talking about the NFL/RUssia and you suddenly turned this into another one of your "I'm going to defend Trump" episodes. News flash: No defense necessary because this thread isn't about Trump.

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Earlier this month, Facebook acknowledged hundreds of fake accounts, probably run from Russia, spent about $100,000 on ads aimed at stirring up divisive issues such as gun control and race relations during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

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The leaders of House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the election said Wednesday it will hold an open hearing with tech companies in October "in order to better understand how Russia used online tools and platforms to sow discord in and influence our election."

Over the weekend, players and even some coaches and owners around the NFL took a knee during the national anthem, stood locked arm-in-arm, or didn't emerge for "The Star-Spangled Banner" after President Donald Trump in vulgar terms called for players who kneeled during the anthem to be "fired."

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Trump made his comments at a campaign rally for Sen. Luther Strange in Alabama, and further inflamed tensions with athletes by calling out the NBA champions Warriors’ Stephen Curry on Twitter and withdrawing an invitation for a White House visit.

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Trump at the Friday rally in Huntsville also suggested that the players were being penalized too often for making aggressive tackles in which players "hit too hard."

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The article is about Trump and the Russia Hoax.

DOJ demands Facebook information from 'anti-administration activists'

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Originally Posted by Judy

The article is about Trump and the Russia Hoax.

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Russian Trolls Using NFL Protests to Sow Discord Online, Republican Senator Says

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Originally Posted by MW

Russian Trolls Using NFL Protests to Sow Discord Online, Republican Senator Says

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Headlines aren't articles. You should read the article before you challenge a comment. Otherwise, you might end up looking like you're .... "patronizing" Fake News and defending the Russia Hoax. Your choice to do so, of course .... just saying.

Fake black activist group linked to Russia sold items online