Facebook removes accounts tied to pro-Trump student group

Facebook announced Thursday that it removed a number of fake accounts that the platform said were tied to a network operated on behalf of Turning Point USA, a pro-Trump conservative student organization.

The social media company said it removed 200 Facebook accounts, 55 pages and 76 accounts on Facebook-owned Instagram since the start of the month as part of the operation.

Facebook said an investigation, launched after a Washington Post report last month about some elements of the activity, found that Turning Point USA was working with marketing firm Rally Forge to create the network of accounts.

Turning Point told The Hill that Facebook’s post was not in reference to the nonprofit Turning Point USA, but rather to a project for Turning Point Action, the political action committee formed by Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Turning Point Action said the PAC is a separate entity from Turning Point USA.

“Turning Point ACTION works hard to operate within social platforms’ [terms of service] on all of its projects and communications and we hope to work closely with FB to rectify any misunderstanding,” Turning Point Action said in a statement.

Turning Point Action referred all questions regarding the activities of Rally Forge to the marketing firm. The Hill has reached out to Rally Forge for comment.