'Mysterious network pays influencers to spread sexual smears against Kamala Harris'

In late July, as Vice President Kamala Harris consolidated support for a potential presidential bid, a mysterious network of influencers launched a coordinated campaign promoting sexual smears against her. The campaign, which blurred the lines between traditional advertising and paid influencer content, paid individuals to disseminate sexual allegations and attack Harris on social media platforms, a Semafor report said.
The network operated under a veil of anonymity, with participants joining video calls without revealing their identities. According to a person who participated in the calls, none of the attendees used their real names or turned on their cameras. However, Semafor was able to identify one participant as former New York Republican Representative George Santos. During one of these anonymous calls, Santos voiced his objection to the group’s focus on sexual allegations against Harris.
The campaign was organized through emails, Zoom calls, and payments via Zelle, according to records reviewed by Semafor. Participants in the influencer network were reportedly well-compensated, with one individual earning over $20,000 for a few weeks of promoting the assigned messages. The calls were arranged by a figure using the name James Bacon, who also handled the Zelle payments.
One such invitation, titled "War Room — Kamala Messaging," was sent on Monday, July 22, while Harris was emerging as a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. The influencers were instructed to make a series of lurid sexual attacks on Harris, including comparing her to Hailey Welch, a woman who gained viral notoriety for a video discussing oral sex, the Semafor report said.
Santos, who has recently transformed into a social media figure after facing federal sentencing, objected to the direction of the messaging and left the call, according to a participant who spoke with Semafor. Santos did not comment on the incident but appeared to allude to it in a tweet posted on July 24: "Oddly enough conservative influencers talking about Kamala's sex life and race! Please God make it stop…."
The attacks on Harris also gained traction on Truth Social, with former President Donald Trump sharing similar sentiments. The New York Times described one of Trump’s posts as "a crude remark about Vice President Kamala Harris that suggested Ms. Harris traded sexual favors to help her political career."