Pro-Crypto PAC Used Fabricated Headlines In Ads Against Florida Democratic Candidate, Report Says

A U.S. pro-cryptocurrency political action committee has been accused of using fabricated news headlines to attack a Democratic candidate in Florida’s primary election, according to a report by the Miami Herald.

Protect Progress, a super PAC linked to the crypto industry, reportedly misquoted three Miami Herald articles in advertisements targeting Oliver Gilbert, a candidate in Florida’s 24th Congressional District. The ads falsely portrayed Gilbert as supporting President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration policies, the newspaper said.

What Happened

The Miami Herald reported that Protect Progress created fake headlines styled after its own news articles, then used them in digital ads against Gilbert. The fabricated headlines were designed to look like authentic journalism, potentially misleading voters about Gilbert’s record.

Gilbert, a former mayor of Miami Lakes, is running in the Democratic primary for Florida’s 24th Congressional District, a seat that includes parts of Miami-Dade County. The primary is scheduled for August 18.

Protect Progress has spent more than $22 million nationwide during this election cycle, according to federal records. The group reported spending over $1 million to defeat Gilbert ahead of the primary.