The Republican Party of St. Johns County is facing what they’re calling another case of impersonation, marking the second incident in under two years.
Party Chairman, Denver Cook said an unauthorized person or people are using a deceptive email address to send disparaging messages about party members.
Cook said someone created a Gmail account that has “saintjohnsgop” to communicate with party members.
“It’s frustrating,” Cook said.
The chairman noted the fake emails being sent to people lack official party branding, don’t include their disclaimer and and contain a telling spelling difference from authentic communications.
“We do St. Johns, like our signs,” Cook explained, noting that the fraudulent emails spell out the word saint instead of abbreviate it.
Cook said members of the party started receiving these emails a few weeks ago. In addition to making negative comments about certain members some make claims about Democratic infiltration of the organization. Cook said this could cause reputational harm.
“There will be voters who see something like that and don’t trust their own party,” Cook said.
He also said one of the reasons he’s speaking out is because he wants people in St. Johns County to know there is only one Republican party.
This email impersonation comes a year after the same party, had to deal with a similar situation last year.
Someone or a group was distributing unauthorized voter guides bearing the party’s name and logo, endorsing candidates the party had not officially backed.
News4JAX sent a message to the email address Cook said was impersonating St. Johns GOP, they eventually responded with an email detailing what they believe to be issues in the St. Johns County Republican Party and things that need to be investigated.