Fake Twitter account stirs anti-immigrant hate in Maine
And a Maine GOP state rep repeatedly retweeted it.
“Within the last week, the account was picked up by the Maine First Project, a conservative political organization run by Republican state Rep. Larry Lockman, who has repeatedly pursued anti-immigrant legislation and echoed President Trump’s “fake news” talking points.
Lockman sent out a fundraising email Monday with the subject line: “Bogus ‘asylum seekers’ want you to pay for their nice cars and nice houses.” It echoed false statements on the fake account, saying that the family had turned down housing offers in Brunswick or Ellsworth and that his wife wanted a house in Portland “near stores and restaurants.” Lockman dubbed Mafumba the “Prince of Portland.”
Although Lockman said in the email that “I find it hard to believe this isn’t a parody account,” he nonetheless repeated the fake messages and linked back to the fake account. He asked his supporters to share the message widely and contribute money to his political group.
Lockman could not be reached by phone for an interview, but in an email response to written questions he stood by his characterization that noncitizens “want Maine taxpayers to give them free stuff.”
https://www.pressherald.com/2019/08/01/migrant-in-portland-shocked-to-learn-his-image-is-used-to-smear-fellow-asylum-seekers/
