FCC Clobbers Trump-Supporting Activists Over Racist Robocalls - Rachel Maddow - MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

Rachel Maddow reports on two Trump-supporting conservative activists, Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman who were charged with targeting tens of thousands of Black voters with robocalls meant to discourage them from voting by mail, and who were also flagged to the FCC, which responded with a rare, resounding recommendation of a fine of over five million dollars. Aired on 08/24/2021.

[SeattleVet]

1. The FCC is just fining them for 1,141 robocalls to cellphones.

Robocalls to cellphones are expressly prohibited under the Telephone Consumers Protection Act, unless express prior permission is given by the phone owner. They're essentially getting fined $4500 per call.

They still need to be charged for the racially-motivated election tampering they did, and REALLY get the book thrown at them.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Election interference should come with the steepest charges they have.

This is truly unconscionable. And they do need the toughest charges possible to serve as an example. Turns out right this minute, the repeat of Rachel is on and she just played that despicable recorded call again.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. They are facing felony charges for this in multiple states

in MI & OH - https://www.salon.com/2020/10/27/jacob-wohl-and-jack-burkman-hit-with-15-new-felony-charges-one-day-after-testifying-in-related-case/

http://prosecutor.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/duo-indicted-voter-intimidation-scam-targeted-minority-communities.aspx

And PA - https://6abc.com/mail-in-ballots-voting-2020-presidential-election-pennsylvania-attorney-general/6415950/

https://www.wpxi.com/news/top-stories/pa-attorney-general-investigating-robocalls-intimidating-voters-that-originated-michigan/MKY22LY3TNDSTH7TQSJWCGTFFA/

And even the NY state AG Letitia Jams is going after them - https://www.thedailybeast.com/ny-ag-letitia-james-sues-jacob-wohl-jack-burkman-over-alleged-robocall-plot

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Thank you!

[BumRushDaShow]

6. It's literally a blizzard of charges

and even if this latest from the FCC doesn't go anywhere, they are going to be drowning in penalties, fines, and hopefully jail time up the wazoo in multiple states!

I think because this happened to multiple states, they may be looking to sortof consolidate/agree to deferring to having federal charges imposed (if there was any prison time associated) because the affected states would have to jockey between each other in that aspect.

I.e., this is a case for DOJ intervention (which is what Rachel was hinting at with respect to the current Director of the Civil Rights unit of DOJ being involved now).

[SeattleVet]

7. They also need a federal felony or two to top it off.

Smack them hard in every possible jurisdiction. We also need to make sure that all the penalties levied against them are well-publicized as a warning to others that might think this type of thing is a good idea.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. +infinity

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Thanks for posting

Our poor President is literally a one-man band juggling so many things at once and he's only been in office 7 months. He's literally done almost 4 years worth of work during that time.

But hopefully this may prompt a nomination to fill the 5th (currently vacant) seat on the FCC so that the net neutrality effort that he wants can move forward too.

(and hopefully by December he'll have a couple good nominees ready to submit for the Postal Board to finally allow them to torpedo DeJoy).