A conservative who launched a joke at Hillary Clinton fans during the 2016 election, telling them to avoid the lines and vote online, which of course was impossible, was the target in a war from Joe Biden’s administration as soon as he took office.
Ultimately, his case was thrown out, and now he’s striking back with a lawsuit for damages.
A report at Revolver explains it is Douglass Mackey who revealed on Donald Trump Jr.’s show that he is suing the U.S. government.
The report explains, “Back in 2020, right after Joe Biden was installed in the White House, one of the very first things his weaponized DOJ did was launch a political hit job on Douglass Mackey, a conservative influencer who dared to mock Hillary Clinton with a satirical meme during the 2016 election. The meme was obviously a joke and clearly protected speech. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was the message it sent: mock the regime, and we’ll destroy your life. So, that’s exactly what the Biden regime did.”
BREAKING: Doug Mackey retains James @BurnhamDC, former general counsel to DOGE, to file a claim with the Justice Department.
It’s not just about the money, Burnham says, but also holding individuals accountable. Will explore lawsuits, misconduct complaints, investigations. pic.twitter.com/dZirCDzKcr
— Revolver News (@RevolverNewsUSA) July 29, 2025
One of the Biden DOJ’s very first actions—on January 22, 2021, just two days into the Biden administration—was to initiate a criminal prosecution to try to send a self-described X “troll” to federal prison just for posting or reposting three political memes during the 2016…
— Chad Mizelle (@ChadMizelle47) July 18, 2025
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals just recently ended the Biden administration’s war against Mackey by vacating his conviction.
Revolver reported, “Many also believe the Mackey case was a test run. Because if they could twist a meme into a federal crime and throw a young guy in prison, could they also go after a former president? Turns out, yes. They could. And they did.”
The report also noted Mackey was “bringing in some serious firepower,” as his lawyer is James Burnham, who previously was general counsel to President Donald Trump’s DOGE.
Revolver explained in the Trump Jr. interview, Mackey’s attorney “made it clear that securing compensation for the damages Mackey endured will be priority number one, and those damages total in the millions in legal fees, lost opportunities, defamation, and untold stress and hardship.”
Also possible? Suing DOJ attorneys in their personal capacity and filing misconduct complaints against them.
Also they will work with Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate how the case could come about, “who originated it, and whose heads need to roll for it.”
When the 2nd Circuit ruling was announced, it tossed Mackey’s conviction for election interference.
WND reported the joke by Mackey triggered a conviction for “election interference.”
Ep. 38 The First Amendment is done. Douglass Mackey is about to go to prison for mocking Hillary Clinton on the internet. We talked to him right before his sentencing. Remember as you watch that this could be you.
TIMESTAMPS:
(3:12) The Hillary Clinton meme
(4:20) Hillary’s… pic.twitter.com/MLwz2SboGr— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) November 9, 2023
But he appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the decision, arguing that if the government’s case against him stands, the results necessarily would criminalize not just political misinformation and satire, but also “lies about also whether and for whom to vote. Such a sprawling political speech code is in the teeth of every applicable canon for reading criminal laws, and grossly offends the First Amendment.”
There were claims Mackey tricked some 5,000 people into voting by text or social media, even though there was no process to accommodate those attempts.
WND also reported that a “progressive activist told Trump supporters to vote by text, but she was not prosecuted.
Man convicted for joking about Hillary takes on Biden regime
