Appeals Court Overturns Douglass Mackey's 2016 Meme Conviction

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned the conviction of Douglass Mackey, a Trump supporter who was prosecuted during the Biden administration for posting satirical memes in 2016 that falsely suggested Hillary Clinton supporters could vote by text message. The court ruled that the government failed to prove Mackey knowingly entered into a conspiracy, a necessary element under 18 U.S.C. § 241, and thus ordered the immediate dismissal of charges. Mackey had been convicted in 2023 and sentenced to seven months in prison, but the appeals court emphasized that simply posting the memes without evidence of agreement with others does not constitute a conspiracy. The ruling was celebrated by Mackey and his supporters as a victory for free speech and a rejection of politically motivated prosecution. Mackey expressed gratitude to his legal team and supporters and indicated plans to sue the Justice Department and continue exercising his rights. The decision, authored by a panel of judges from both parties, underscores the court's commitment to protecting constitutional rights against overreach in politically charged cases.