U.S. officials have confirmed that a widely circulated video falsely portraying the destruction of mail-in ballots for Donald Trump in Pennsylvania was produced by Russian actors. This video gained traction on social media but was debunked within hours by local election officials and law enforcement, following public reports about its misleading content.
The FBI stated that the video was likely “manufactured and amplified” as part of a broader Russian effort to undermine trust in the U.S. election process and create divisions among the American public.
The Bucks County Board of Elections quickly identified the video as fake, noting that the materials used were not authentic. Investigators pointed to connections between the video and a known Russian disinformation network called Storm-1516.
Experts indicated that the choice to use a Black actor with a foreign accent in the video could be a deliberate tactic to exploit racial tensions and existing divisions in the U.S.
Both political parties in Bucks County condemned the video as disinformation aimed at discouraging voter participation. Election officials expressed optimism about their ability to swiftly counter misinformation as the election approaches.
Peoplesmind
