Covert Influencer Network Paid to Spread Smears About Kamala Harris
In late July, a secretive network of influencers launched a paid campaign to spread sexualized smears about Vice President Kamala Harris, coinciding with her emergence as the Democratic frontrunner for the 2024 presidential race. The influencers, who operated anonymously during video calls, were instructed to push these attacks as part of a broader strategy to damage Harris’ public image, according to a report by Semafor.
The campaign was notable for its secrecy. According to sources, the influencers communicated via Zoom calls where participants kept their cameras off and used pseudonyms, allowing them to maintain anonymity. Payments for the work were made via Zelle, with one influencer reportedly receiving more than $20,000 over the course of several weeks. The orchestrator of the campaign, who went by the name “James Bacon,” was responsible for organizing the calls and distributing the payments. Despite extensive efforts, the true backers of the operation remain unidentified, with no direct evidence connecting any known political entity to the campaign.
The first phase of the operation involved promoting standard Republican talking points, attacking Democrats on various issues. However, on July 22, the focus shifted to Harris, with the influencers instructed to post sexual smears comparing her to viral internet personalities. One participant, former New York Congressman George Santos, objected to the nature of the attacks and left the call in protest. Santos later appeared to reference the incident on social media, tweeting on July 24: “Oddly enough conservative influencers talking about Kamala’s sex life and race! Please God make it stop….”
A Network Without a Face
The anonymity of the network’s participants and organizers has made it difficult to determine who was behind the campaign. Payments were made under the name “James Bacon,” but efforts to contact him have been unsuccessful. Several prominent conservative influencers have denied involvement, even though similar attacks against Harris appeared on social media around the same time.
Some within the conservative influencer community acknowledged that the sums paid to participants were consistent with typical rates in the industry, but none claimed direct knowledge of this particular operation. Despite the considerable financial backing, the identity of the figures funding and directing the campaign remains unknown.
An Unsolved Puzzle
The attacks on Kamala Harris reflect a growing trend of anonymous, covert operations shaping political discourse through digital platforms. While some details of this mysterious network have come to light, including the methods used to organize and compensate participants, the deeper questions about who orchestrated and funded the operation remain unanswered. With the 2024 election fast approaching, the role of shadowy networks in spreading misinformation and smears continues to be a concern for political observers.
