Woman threatened online after CNN publicly confronts her for 'siding' with Russian trolls

A CNN reporter on Wednesday showed up at the home of a Florida Trump supporter, accusing her of promoting a political event that was allegedly hatched in Russia. Needless to say, social media lit up like the Fourth of July.

In an apparent effort to bolster claims that Russia worked behind the scenes to affect the outcome of the 2016 presidential elections, a CNN crew showed up at the home of Florine Goldfarb and conducted what basically amounts to ambush journalism, charging the Trump supporter with cooperating with the Russians.

On the lawn in front of Goldfarb’s residence, CNN’s Special Investigations Unit Reporter Drew Griffin remarks that [the Russians] “were involved with you. Did you know that?”

To which Goldfarb responded, “They weren’t involved with us. Just make sure that you report it correctly that you know…”

Griffin interrupted Goldfarb, accusing her of being “electronically” involved with a Russian-backed group “that contacted and helped to organize some of these activities that you posted on your own Facebook account.”

“Those were legitimate,” Goldfarb responded.

“Those were Russians,” Griffin retorted.

“They were not Russian. I don’t go with the Russians,” she said, visibly shaken. “Those people who were with me were all Trump supporters. Very, very much so.”

The situation was worsened by the fact that CNN, in what appears to have been a breach of journalistic code of ethics, released Goldfarb's name in the public domain, making her an easy target on the social media front. Conservative social media users vented their frustration with the interview, which reportedly resulted in the woman being subjected to taunts and threats.

Journalist Jerry Dunleavy reminded that CNN itself had purportedly been duped by reporting on a Russia-sponsored event.

“So @CNN tracked down one of the ppl unwittingly duped by the Russians — reminder that CNN itself was duped into covering Russian-generated rallies — and @DrewGriffinCNN & Co. thought it best to publicly shame this old lady. Now ppl are viciously harassing her online…”

Indeed, the comments traveled the full gauntlet of crudeness - from vile and unprintable suggestions to expletive-laced tirades. In fact, it is shocking that a Florida woman who apparently broke no law could be treated in such roughhouse fashion.

One user ventured to ask if Goldfarb was a communist.

Others resorted to crude ad hominem attacks.

Last week, 13 Russian nationals and three entities were indicted by a US federal grand jury for supposed meddling in the 2016 presidential election. The allegations include “supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J. Trump... and disparaging Hillary Clinton,” including via Facebook.

However, Facebook vice president for advertising, Rob Goldman, says the accusers and their massive mainstream media supporters got it wrong.

“Most of the coverage of Russian meddling involves their attempt to effect [sic] the outcome of the 2016 US election. I have seen all of the Russian ads and I can say very definitively that swaying the election was *NOT* the main goal,” Goldman tweeted. 

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