Photojournalist Gary He wrote a Twitter thread on Monday that takes apart the latest conspiracy theory from liberals and Democrats saying President Trump's administration is actively working to remove the United States Postal Service's mailboxes to suppress mail-in ballots.
He pointed to a tweet that had gone viral, showing a large pile of mailboxes with the caption, "Photo taken in Wisconsin. This is happening right before our eyes. They are sabotaging USPS to sabotage vote by mail. This is massive voter suppression and part of their plan to steal the election."
The tweet was sent by Thomas Kennedy, a liberal activist.
Photo taken in Wisconsin. This is happening right before our eyes. They are sabotaging USPS to sabotage vote by mail. This is massive voter suppression and part of their plan to steal the election. pic.twitter.com/QXLWGIHTrz
— Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) August 15, 2020
"Problem is, they have been there for years: Hartford Finishing Inc. powder coats and refurbishes the old mailboxes," He wrote. "When I called up Hartford Finishing, Inc., a woman on the phone confirmed that they have a government contract for the mailbox refurbishing and that they 'get them from all over and make them look good again.'"
He also criticized Reuters' photojournalists for not providing enough background on the pile of mailboxes, "When it's later revealed that it was just a place where mailboxes get refurbished, trust in news organizations is further eroded."
When I called up Hartford Finishing, Inc., a woman on the phone confirmed that they have a government contract for the mailbox refurbishing and that they "get them from all over and make them look good again" (2/8)
— Gary He (@garyhe) August 17, 2020
To find this location on Google, you have to search for "Hartford Finishing". It's a side road, not like you can spot the mailboxes from a highway. The sign for the business is 20 feet away from the mailboxes. To omit all this from the caption is journalistic malpractice. (4/8) pic.twitter.com/DIvUTj9urb
— Gary He (@garyhe) August 17, 2020
Especially since @Reuters is a wire service, other news orgs are going to use these pictures as evidence of Trump tampering with the USPS. When it's later revealed that it was just a place where mailboxes get refurbished, trust in news organizations is further eroded. (6/8)
— Gary He (@garyhe) August 17, 2020
For the non journalists out there: I get it, you're anxious about the election. And maybe there ARE shenanigans going on! But this is the wrong way to conduct journalism and why you don't run stories based on random info on social media without vetting the hell out of it. (8/8)
— Gary He (@garyhe) August 17, 2020
Politifact rated the tweet and accompanying caption, which has spread to Facebook and Reddit, as false, saying, "The picture is from Wisconsin, taken at a Hartford company, but it’s not proof of anything nefarious."