Former General Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s recently pardoned national security adviser, speaks during a protest of the outcome of the 2020 presidential election outside the Supreme Court on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. (PhotTasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Unraveling viral disinformation and explaining where it came from, the harm it's causing, and what we should do about it.
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Flynn’s comments quickly made headlines, and Rep. Liz Cheney hit out at the comments, tweeting: “No American should advocate or support the violent overthrow of the United States.”But even though it was captured clearly on multiple videos, within hours the former United States Army lieutenant general was denying he ever called for a military coup.“Let me be VERY CLEAR – There is NO reason whatsoever for any coup in America, and I do not and have not at any time called for any action of that sort,” Flynn wrote in a message on the encrypted messaging app Telegram.“Any reporting of any other belief by me is a boldface fabrication based on twisted reporting at a lively panel at a conference of Patriotic Americans who love this country, just as I do.”Flynn also enlisted the help of fellow speakers at the conference. On stage on Monday, Doug Billings, a right-wing talk show host, and Jason Sullivan, Roger Stone’s social media advisor who called for Hillary Clinton to be hanged during the conference, came out to bat for Flynn, denying he said anything about calling for a coup.
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