‘Black Insurrectionist’ Revealed: White NY Man’s Online Deception

‘Black Insurrectionist’ Revealed: White NY Man’s Online Deception \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The “Black Insurrectionist” social media account, a key source of election conspiracy theories, has been linked to Jason G. Palmer, a white man from upstate New York. Palmer’s account posted false claims about high-profile figures, attracting endorsements from prominent politicians, including Donald Trump. Despite recent denials, Palmer acknowledged contributing to the account, which was deactivated after investigative revelations.

Black Insurrectionist Election Misinformation Account: Quick Look

• Account Origin: Anonymous social media figure “Black Insurrectionist” traced to Jason G. Palmer, a white man in New York.
• False Identity: Account’s profile photo and tagline suggested a Black patriot; Palmer is white.
• Prominent Amplification: Posts were endorsed by political figures like former President Trump, pushing conspiracy theories.
• Disputed Allegations: Shared affidavit claims were dismissed by ABC News as fabricated; later, another false claim targeted Gov. Tim Walz.
• Complex Background: Palmer’s history includes numerous fraud allegations, unpaid taxes, and a troubled real estate record.
• Final Deactivation: The account was deactivated soon after Palmer was approached for comment on his involvement.

Deep Look

The anonymous “Black Insurrectionist” persona, known for spreading conspiracy theories ahead of the 2024 election, has been traced back to a single, unlikely source: Jason G. Palmer, a white resident of upstate New York with a history of financial and legal troubles. Palmer’s use of a social media identity implying a Black military background and patriotic slogans helped the account gain traction among conservative audiences on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). With a tagline that read, “I FOLLOW BACK TRUE PATRIOTS,” the account successfully garnered over 300,000 followers by posting incendiary claims about key political figures, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is running alongside her.

As Election Day draws near, disinformation tactics have become especially potent, with accounts like “Black Insurrectionist” shaping public narratives around high-profile candidates. By promoting various false narratives, Palmer’s account drew attention from significant political figures, including former President Donald Trump and his current running mate, Senator JD Vance, who publicly engaged with some of Palmer’s claims. The reposted misinformation from the account highlighted the ease with which baseless content can proliferate across online spaces, magnifying its reach when picked up by influential voices.

One particularly viral claim posted last month purported to be an affidavit from an ABC News employee who accused the network of giving Harris advance access to questions for her debate with Trump. ABC News firmly rejected this claim, but not before Trump publicly signaled his approval by stating, “I love the person.” The “Black Insurrectionist” account also recently accused Walz of inappropriate conduct with a student decades ago—a claim without any substantiated basis and reportedly originating from Russian disinformation sources, according to U.S. intelligence officials.

Despite Palmer’s shifting explanations, evidence compiled by the Associated Press (AP) from public records, open-source intelligence, and interviews directly linked him to the account. His connection to the “Black Insurrectionist” persona was uncovered through a series of digital trails, including shared biographical details about his location in upstate New York, online usernames, and emails. In one post, Palmer’s email address and initials “JP” appeared onscreen in a video clip of Trump’s election case docket from Georgia, revealing a direct link to his personal information. Additional research identified his email and phone number as the same used by the “Black Insurrectionist” on social media, with a connected Skype account bearing a similar screen name.

After initially denying that he managed the account, Palmer later admitted to being involved but claimed he had sold it earlier this year, refusing to disclose the buyer. In a series of contradictory statements, Palmer acknowledged he had participated in making specific claims about Governor Walz but maintained he served primarily as a “researcher” in a larger group. Palmer stated that the main operator of the “Black Insurrectionist” account was an unidentified Black friend, whom he declined to introduce to AP reporters.

Palmer’s turbulent financial and personal history suggests a pattern of questionable behavior well before his involvement with “Black Insurrectionist.” Records indicate he owes over $6.7 million in back taxes to New York State. Those acquainted with him recounted numerous incidents involving Palmer’s business practices, including accusations of fraud, unpaid debts, and broken agreements with past associates. He was even previously involved in a failed business transaction with Kathleen Albano’s late husband, who allegedly lost substantial sums in dealings with Palmer. According to Albano, Palmer persuaded her husband to enter into a business investment to recover losses after Palmer defaulted on payments for a property.

Legal disputes and financial instability have dogged Palmer for years. In the early 2000s, he tried to establish himself in the commercial real estate market, acquiring several properties in downtown Rochester. However, his venture ended in a series of lawsuits from lenders and former business partners. Palmer’s partners alleged he attempted to gain control of properties by submitting forged documents with falsified signatures. A forensic specialist analyzing a 2020 property transfer concluded that a key document’s signatures and notary seal appeared to be digitally manipulated. Palmer argued his former business partner William Mendick had wronged him in the transaction, though the case was ultimately dismissed.

Palmer’s contentious background extends to additional anecdotes of erratic behavior, including one from Maureen Bass, a Rochester bankruptcy attorney who represented a lender during foreclosure proceedings against him. Bass recalled Palmer’s lengthy and accusatory email “manifesto,” in which he claimed local government officials had orchestrated conspiracies against him to seize his assets, describing himself as a victim of an “Axis of Evil.”

These findings about Palmer and his role in operating the “Black Insurrectionist” account reveal a wider issue with anonymous online personas driving false narratives in the political landscape. This particular account, which presented a fabricated persona to lend credibility to its posts, was able to sway opinions and infiltrate mainstream political discussions—a stark illustration of how disinformation continues to influence contemporary elections. As social media platforms, including X, attempt to balance free expression with combating false information, the case of “Black Insurrectionist” sheds light on the ongoing challenges of moderating disinformation while preserving online anonymity.

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