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Who is the “Black Insurrectionist?”
The social media account known as “Black Insurrectionist,” which stirred up 2024 election conspiracy theories that Donald Trump “loves” has finally been unmasked as a white man named Jason G. Palmer. “Everybody wants to be a…” Well, you know how the saying goes.
According to The Associated Press, Palmer operated the account on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. His profile included a picture of a Black soldier and the tagline “I FOLLOW BACK TRUE PATRIOTS.”
This deceptive persona amassed over 300,000 followers and pushed controversial claims about high-profile political figures, such as Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The AP reports that some of the account’s most salacious claims were even amplified by former President Donald Trump, JD Vance, and their Republican allies in Congress.
This feels so similar to the reveal that the Spokane NAACP President was a blonde white woman named Rachel Dolezal.
False Allegations & Russian Disinformation
In the final weeks leading up to the election, Black Insurrectionist ramped up its false claims, some of which quickly went viral. Last month, the account posted what it claimed was an affidavit from an ABC News employee alleging that Harris was provided debate questions in advance.
ABC News strongly denied that statement.
The AP states that Trump, however, seized on this baseless claim, stating,
“I love the person.”
The account also posted a fabricated story accusing Walz of inappropriate behavior with a student decades ago. U.S. intelligence identified this as a lie as stemming from a Russian disinformation campaign.
It’s such a mess.
A Dubious Digital Trail
The AP tracked the account back to Palmer by cross-referencing personal details posted by Black Insurrectionist with public records and interviews with individuals who knew Palmer.
A pivotal clue came from a video posted in March, where Palmer’s email address and the initials “JP” were visible on his web browser, linking him to the account. Palmer denied creating the account but admitted to having owned it before allegedly selling it earlier this year.
However, he recently admitted to posting content, including accusations against Walz, claiming he worked as a “researcher” with a broader network of people.
“We did that with big people. National people,” said Palmer.
So many lies piling up.
Palmer’s Troubled Past
Palmer’s backstory is equally controversial. The AP states that Palmer has a lengthy history of legal and financial issues, including allegations of fraud, more than $6.7 million in unpaid taxes. This is allegedly due to a past struggle with drug addiction.
His former associates painted a picture of a man who lured others into failing business ventures, leaving a trail of unpaid debts and broken promises. Kathleen Albano, the widow of a former business partner, described her husband’s experience with Palmer.
“He owes me a ton of money… My husband got caught up in a lot of those dealings,” said Albano.
She also claims Palmer even purchased a home from her and her husband, only to stop making payments.
Courtroom Drama & A Web Of Lies
Adding to his checkered history, Palmer has been linked to multiple lawsuits involving fraudulent business practices. The AP states that court records share a forensic specialist determined that Palmer allegedly used digital manipulation to forge signatures and notarizations on legal documents.
Despite his attempts to distance himself from the “Black Insurrectionist” account, his digital and personal history is now exposing a pattern of deceit that only adds more fuel to this heated election season.