Douglass Mackey, a pro-Trump meme creator, has had his conviction overturned by a federal appeals court. This decision came on July 9, 2025, when a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit reversed Mackey’s conviction, citing a lack of evidence. The court instructed a lower court to dismiss the case entirely.
Mackey, who is known online as Ricky Vaughn, was initially charged by the Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) in January 2021, just after President Joe Biden took office. The charges stemmed from memes he posted during the 2016 presidential election. One particular meme depicted a woman with a sign reading “African Americans for President Hillary” and suggested that voters could avoid waiting in line by texting “Hillary” to a number. The DOJ argued that Mackey conspired to intimidate voters, claiming his actions were an attempt to undermine the electoral process.
In 2023, Mackey was sentenced to seven months in prison, but his sentence was put on hold pending appeal. Following the recent ruling, Mackey celebrated on social media, expressing his relief and gratitude. He stated, “Hallelujah!” and indicated that he plans to take further legal action against the federal government.
Mackey has garnered support from various figures, including former President Donald Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr. Despite the conviction, Mackey had previously stated he would not seek a pardon from Trump, hoping instead for a favorable ruling that would set a legal precedent against what he described as the political weaponization of the law.
Now that his conviction has been overturned, Mackey is looking to pursue legal action against the DOJ. His case has sparked discussions about free speech and the boundaries of political expression in the digital age.