Attorney For Pro-Trump Memester Facing 10 Years For Election Interference Responds To Guilty Verdict

Pro-Trump meme creator Douglass Mackey, also known as “Ricky Vaughn” on Twitter, has been found guilty by a Brooklyn jury on one count of “Conspiracy Against Rights” for interfering in the 2016 presidential election. Mackey is facing up to ten years in prison for his social media posts. However, his attorney, Andrew J. Frisch, plans to appeal the verdict.

After the guilty verdict was handed down, Frisch told reporters that there are a strong array of appellate issues in this case, and they are optimistic about their chances on appeal. The attorney explained that the appellate court could potentially vacate the conviction on first amendment grounds or the government’s suppression of exculpatory information, among other issues.

The jury spent about 35 hours over five days deliberating before rendering the guilty verdict. They initially sent notes back to Judge Ann Donnelly indicating they were split and could not come to a decision. However, the judge ordered them to continue deliberations through an Allen charge, which is controversial and puts pressure on jurors in the minority opinion to change their stance.

Some legal experts have expressed concern that the Department of Justice may be infringing on Americans’ free speech rights by charging Mackey with election interference for political reasons.

Despite the guilty verdict, Frisch plans to appeal, and Mackey remains optimistic.