Whistleblower Christopher Wylie told House Democrats on Tuesday that former Trump campaign strategist Stephen Bannon asked Cambridge Analytica to research voter suppression techniques. Wylie told House Judiciary Democrats and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee during a private briefing that Bannon directed the British research firm to explore methods for “discouraging particular types of voters who are more prone to voting for Democratic or liberal candidates.” The whistleblower also told House Democrats that Bannon directed the firm to test messaging regarding Russia, Vladimir Putin and Russian expansion in Eastern Europe. “It was the only foreign issue or foreign leader, I should say, being tested at the time I was there,” Wylie told lawmakers.
Bannon was a founder of Cambridge Analytica and held a position on its board before joining the Trump campaign.
Wylie also shed light on Michael Flynn’s advisory role at the research firm, saying that his function was to “open doors and look at potential contracts” for the company as a consultant.
The research firm, which Wylie described on Tuesday as a “full-service propaganda machine,” has been embroiled in controversy since Facebook disclosed that it would cut ties with Cambridge Analytica over its improperly harvesting the data of 87 million Facebook users.
Full Article: Bannon directed Cambridge Analytica to research discouraging voter turnout, whistleblower says | TheHill.