Why are hundreds – or thousands – of Russian Twitter accounts, likely bots, following “Judge” Moore?
Republican U.S. Senate nominee “Judge” Roy Moore’s list of Twitter followers is packed with a lot of names that are pronounceable to most Americans only if they happen to speak Russian. The far right wing anti-gay twice-former state Supreme Court chief justice, booted both times for refusing to honor federal law, is following just 35 people. Among them, the usual right wing extremists: Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, Christian activists and former reality TV show hosts Phil Robertson, Sarah Palin, and Donald Trump. Anti-gay extremists Tony Perkins, the Family Research Council, Franklin Graham, Erick Erickson, Todd Starnes, and Bob Vader Plaats.
But take a look at who’s following Roy Moore, as Alabama’s The Ostrich did:
There appear to be at least hundreds of Russian Twitter accounts, likely bots, following “Judge” Moore. Â
A screenshot:
Someone’s posted a video of “Roy Moore’s Bot Army”:
Why so many apparently Russian accounts?
Granted, the Moore campaign may not have control over who follows him on Twitter, but why would Russia be so interested in his campaign? Or is the Moore campaign paying for followers and tapped into a Russian bot bank?
Either way, it’s disturbing.
In case you’re wondering, Moore does not have a verified Twitter account, so NCRM went to the account linked on his campaign website, just to ensure @MooreSenate is not a fake or parody account.Â
The Tuscaloosa County Democratic Party apparently has heard the news and posted this response to Moore’s new followers, to Twitter:
On Friday, Moore called for the impeachment of U.S Supreme Court justices who ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.
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