Will censors interfere with elections again?

In early September, the U.S. Department of Justice announced criminal charges against two employees of RT (formerly Russia Today), alleging that the state media had “orchestrated a large-scale scheme to influence the American public by secretly establishing and financing a content creation company on U.S. soil.”

Separately, the Justice Department announced that it had stolen (“seized”) 32 internet domains that were allegedly used to “covertly disseminate Russian government propaganda aimed at diminishing international support for Ukraine, amplifying pro-Russian policies and interests, and influencing voters in U.S. and foreign elections, including the 2024 U.S. presidential election.”

The victims, according to US prosecutor Damian Williams? “The American people, who received Russian communications without knowing it.”

US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland also weighed in on the discussion: “The Justice Department will not tolerate any attempt by an authoritarian regime to abuse the free exchange of ideas in our country to covertly advance its own propaganda efforts.”

Really and truly?

Garland, once nominated to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, surely knows better. There is no exemption to the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and press, unless the ideas originate from parties I happen to dislike, or contain content I disagree with.

The Justice Department isn’t even enamored with the fig leaf of an “in extremis” excuse, such as a state of war between the U.S. and Russia or an impending attack that could have prevented the indictments and domain thefts.

Do you interfere in the American elections? Of course you do. All powerful regimes interfere in the elections of other countries.

The US regime has a long history of this, including sponsoring coups when elections in other countries do not have the desired outcome.

Even smaller regimes are getting involved in election meddling. The Israeli regime, operating through unregistered foreign agents, has openly and brazenly interfered in U.S. elections for decades, to the tune of more than $100 million this year alone.

It’s not the Russian regime that Merrick Garland and his friends distrust. It’s you, the American voter.

Part of that distrust may simply be paternalism: you’re too naive, perhaps too stupid, to figure things out for yourself. If someone outside of Merrick Garland and his cronies is allowed to talk to you, they’ll fill your head with nonsense and you’ll vote “wrong” in November.

Another part of it is pure, unadulterated fear: when you hear things that may be true but that don’t align with the goals, intentions, and desires of the American regime, you can make a decision for yourself instead of just doing what you’re told.

The “Russian election interference” story is now in its third consecutive presidential election cycle. It cuts! It dices! It cuts!

It was Hillary Clinton’s excuse for her poor campaign in 2016.

It was the mainstream media’s excuse to cover up revelations about Hunter Biden’s laptop in 2020.

This year it serves as a cover for the failed military operation of both sides in Ukraine.

Garland and co. are afraid of your opinion… if it comes without censorship on their part.