A congressional candidate is connected to a fake newspaper that’s plastered the South Bay, which mirrors several other misleading websites created by her consultant with ties to Roger Stone and an extreme right-wing agenda.
With a few weeks until Election Day, voters across Silicon Valley are finding a newspaper in their mailboxes called The South Bay Chronicle. It looks convincing with an editorial font title, headlines and stories that mimic major publications.
But a closer look reveals the paper is peddling propaganda and misinformation. The articles contain no author names or dates, and its pages attack San Jose Rep. Zoe Lofgren while promoting one of her political challengers: Charlene Nijmeh.
Nijmeh, chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe since 2018, is working with political consultant Matthew Ricchiazzi who’s notorious for creating a slew of fake news sites — including The Buffalo Chronicle and San Francisco Inquirer. The tribe is one of Ricchiazzi’s clients.