The Miss America Organization is retaliating against several defiant state officials, following a summer revolt against the pageant and its chairman, former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson.
The organization is terminating the licenses of four states and potentially putting up to another 15 on probation, the Associated Press reported on Monday. States that have been terminated need to replace their current leadership and can ask for an appeal hearing from a Miss America committee.
Miss America Organization didn’t confirm to the AP which states in particular were punished, saying, “The process regarding Miss America state licensees is confidential.” But a lawyer for Georgia and West Virginia told the AP their licenses are being terminated, along with a Pennsylvania official telling the AP its state had been booted as well.
The rebellious states weren’t pushing back against the pageant dropping its swimsuit competition, but rather the leadership of Carlson, a 1989 Miss America champion, and CEO Regina Hopper since taking over at the beginning of 2018.
After a letter from outgoing Cara Mund, the outgoing Miss America, said she’d been bullied by Miss America leadership, 46 of the 51 state organizations (the District of Columbia is in the competition) called for Carlson and Hopper to resign. Twenty-three former pageant winners also lobbied for their exit. A Miss America investigation found no evidence to support Mund’s claim — although investigators failed to interview Mund for its report.
10 Most Shocking Russian Troll Posts on Facebook and Instagram, From Hillary Clinton to Police Brutality (Photos)
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.
House Intelligence Committee
Many posts pushed the narrative that Hillary Clinton would confiscate guns if she were elected President.
House Intelligence Committee
This graphic meme painted cops as KKK members attacking a young black child.
House Intelligence Committee
Only "sissies" and other undesirables wouldn't support Donald Trump, many of the memes said.
House Intelligence Committee
President Obama was a "pawn" and "traitor" in the hands of "Arabian Sheikhs," said one 2016 ad.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Black Matters US" page touched on hot button issues like police shootings.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Army of Jesus" page shared a bible verse, along with this meme.
House Intelligence Committee
Russian trolls also used Instagram to spread sponsored political memes.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Blacktivist" page routinely shared memes on Colin Kaepernick and other football players kneeling during the national anthem.
House Intelligence Committee
"Heart of Texas" routinely posted on "Killary Rotten Clinton," and threatened to secede from the union if she won the election.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Being Patriotic" page labeled ex-cons as "Obama voters."
House Intelligence Committee
1 of 11
Congress just released 3,500 posts touching on a myriad of topics
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.