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Viral video showing 'voter fraud' is actually a cameraman moving equipment

The video was shared by Eric Trump and conservatives on social media with claims it showed ‘voter fraud’

Stuti Mishra
Friday 06 November 2020 12:56 GMT
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Viral video showing 'voter fraud' is actually a cameraman moving equipment

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A video that is being widely shared by conservatives on social media, claiming it shows voter fraud in Detroit, is actually footage of a local news cameraman loading his camera and other gear into a vehicle for work.

The video, posted by Texas Lawyers for Trump member Kellye SoRelle, shows a man loading a box from a white van into a wagon, which was later shared by conservative figures including the president’s son Eric Trump claiming it as evidence of wrongdoing during the election.

Other platforms sharing the video included the conservative news site Texas Scorecard and the live stream of conservative YouTuber Steven Crowder, with speculation that the box contained ballots and was being brought to the counting centre long after the polls closed.

Ms SoRelle also appeared on the live stream and claimed that the box looked similar to boxes of ballots she "had seen and been watching and monitoring" at polling stations at the TCF Centre as a Republican observer.

However, soon after the claim went viral, WXYZ reporter Ross Jones clarified on Twitter that it was the channel’s cameraman, just doing his job. Jones said in a tweet: “The ‘ballot thief’ was my photographer. He was bringing down equipment for our 12-hour shift.”

Jones also talked about Ms RoSelle acknowledging that she was the one who recorded and shared the misleading video saying: “I'm hoping she's a better lawyer than she is a detective."

The video still remains on the YouTube page of Texas Scorecard despite the clarification by WXYZ and has already garnered more than 137,000 views.

The fake video claims come at a time when Republicans have been opposing mail-in ballots and demanding a stop to the vote count, as Joe Biden’s lead in the election gets bigger. President Trump’s campaign has filed multiple lawsuits against the continued counting, with Mr Trump alleging “rigging”. His campaign has provided no evidence, however, and none of the claims have been independently verified.

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