BOSTON — The Ed Markey for U.S. Senate campaign announced on Tuesday that they had reported an apparently suspicious Twitter account to the Federal Bureau of Investigation as an election safety precaution.
The account made negative remarks about Kennedy, his campaign and family and even lead to death threats.
The campaign claims that the account was making several negative comments about fellow Senate candidate Joe Kennedy III and supporters of the Democratic challenger under the false pretense of being a Markey supporter.
In order to raise awareness of and protect against election interference, we have reported to the FBI a suspicious Twitter account that made negative comments against the Kennedy campaign under the pretense of being one of our supporters. pic.twitter.com/zfRdbbZS13
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) August 25, 2020
That account, which the Markey campaign identified as @Markeychusetts, allegedly was in use for nearly 48 hours between August 23 through the night of August 24. The account apparently had no followers and was not following any accounts either.
The Markey campaign reported the account to the FBI after blocking and reporting the account on the morning of August 24. The FBI was notified in what the Markey campaign is calling, “an effort to raise awareness of and protect against election interference in the U.S. Senate primary.”
Markey’s campaign manager, John Walsh, gave the following statement in a release regarding the report to FBI officials:
“Election interference is a serious threat to our democracy. Our campaign will continue to take the steps to ensure that we do not have outside interference or any other malicious conduct impacting this election.
“We once again condemn any hateful or vile attacks in this race and continue to take steps like today’s action. From day one, Senator Markey has run a positive campaign based on the issues that matter to Massachusetts voters.”
Even Congressman Kennedy’s wife got into the fray responding to this comment on twitter: “What are you expecting when you married into the most famous family in modern American history?”
Not to receive death threats.
— lauren kennedy (@laurenkennedyMA) August 25, 2020
From your perspective, these are funny, quippy “jokes” we deserve to take. For the lols, for the likes, for the ratios.
Consider that, from our lived experience, words and actions like these hold a very different meaning.
Decency isn’t difficult. https://t.co/cklY0zwmd9
Kennedy’s campaign also sent a statement implying this involves much more than one deleted twitter account.
“It has been over 24 hours since the Kennedy campaign asked Senator Markey to personally disavow the attacks, abuse, and death threats made against Congressman Kennedy and his supporters online. The reporting of one suspicious twitter handle does not absolve him of that responsibility.
— Nick Clemons, Kennedy for MA Campaign Manager
Related: Early voting began Saturday for Mass. primary election
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