Building on a Business Insider article that identified 'Heart of Texas' as one of the 470 Facebook accounts created by the Kremlin-linked Internet Research Agency, CNN reports operatives behind the group worked to inflame anti-Muslim sentiment, push conspiracy theories, and encourage secession.
Independent reporter Casey Michel, who tracked the Heart of Texas page, has posted screenshots of its content.
'Heart of Texas' had 249,000 likes before it was shut down in September. A corresponding Twitter account - @ItsTimeToSecede - is suspended now too.
In May 2016, 'Heart of Texas' called for and promoted the protest of an Islamic Center library in Houston wrongly identified as having received public funding. While turnout was fairly small, the demonstration is evidence of how Russian influence can move from the web into the real world.
Stoking Islamophobia and secession in Texas -- from an office in Russia (CNN)
Shuttered Facebook group that organized anti-Clinton, anti-immigrant rallies across Texas was linked to Russia (Business Insider)
How Russia Created the Most Popular Texas Secession Page on Facebook (Casey Michel)