The Florida-based political magazine, INFLUENCE, recently conducted an interview with Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and conspiracy theorist.
The magazine prefaced the interview with a disclaimer, cautioning readers that Loomer's claims "have not been fact checked or independently verified."
INFLUENCE, under the stewardship of Peter Schorsch, who also operates the Florida Politics website, offers readers a glimpse into the state's political landscape. The magazine features interviews with influential figures, including elected officials, candidates, lobbyists, consultants, attorneys, and media personalities.
It also includes political analysis columns and advertisements from the state's leading lobbying firms.
At 32, Loomer has carved out a niche for herself as a staunch ally of President Donald Trump. Despite being banned from most social media platforms a few years ago, she has managed to amass a significant following. Loomer's controversial stances and her close association with Trump have given her a remarkable level of access and influence.
She has even claimed responsibility for the hiring and firing of some administration officials and recently secured a Pentagon Press Corps pass.
In the latest issue of INFLUENCE, reporter Jacob Ogles interviewed Loomer, offering readers a chance to hear "Laura Loomer in her own words!" According to Mediaite, the interview was conducted over the phone and presented in an "as told to" format, with Loomer's words directly transcribed for the reader. The magazine made it clear that the claims were Loomer's personal views and "have not been fact checked or independently verified."
Loomer's influence in Trump's world and her two unsuccessful congressional campaigns in 2020 and 2022 have made her a subject of interest for the Florida press corps, including Ogles and his colleagues at Florida Politics. Schorsch confirmed to Mediaite that there had been internal discussions about how to handle the interview after its completion.
The decision to transcribe Loomer's words with minimal editing and add a disclaimer was suggested by an editor. Schorsch expressed pride in the magazine's representation of both political parties and its inclusion of figures like Loomer.
Loomer's interview is rife with claims that range from unfounded to questionable. Among these is her assertion that she graduated as valedictorian from Barry University in Miami Shores, after being expelled for a stunt she pulled with James O'Keefe's Project Veritas. Local news reports, however, have only been able to confirm that she claimed to have been suspended from the university, with no verification of the suspension or her graduation status.
Loomer also claims she was "permanently banned on every single social media platform as a result of my investigative reporting." However, numerous media outlets have reported that her suspensions were due to crackdowns on misinformation and extremism, hate speech rules, and her targeting of Muslim members of Congress or rideshare drivers.
In the interview, Loomer reiterates her unfounded claims about the August 2022 election, alleging "suspicious activity" at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office. She lost the GOP primary challenge to U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster by seven points, a result she refused to accept, echoing Trump's baseless claims about the 2020 election. Loomer was part of a lawsuit filed in September 2022 challenging the results of her election, which was dismissed with prejudice two months later.
Despite Loomer's allegations of "suspicious activity" at the Orange County elections office, there were no contemporaneous reports of problems. The then-Supervisor of Elections, Bill Cowles, had a long track record of reliability, respected by candidates and political party operatives on both sides of the aisle.
Loomer's interview also includes claims about promises Trump made to her in private conversations, including his alleged intention to endorse her in the 2022 primary. Given Trump's history of contradicting his own claims, verifying the accuracy of Loomer's assertions about these private conversations is not feasible.
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