Last Updated on December 30, 2019
The wife of Robert Epstein, who testified before Congress with claims that Google could use its services and algorithms to massively rig elections for the Democrats, died last weekend in a tragic car accident.
Epstein, 66, shared the news of the passing of his wife, Misti Dawn Vaughn, on Twitter early Saturday morning, writing “My beautiful wife Misti, a published poet, succumbed last night to injuries sustained in a car accident.”
“I was supposed to die in your arms some day, but a slippery road has ruined everything.”
He added, “You were not just my love, you were my greatest adventure.”
My beautiful wife Misti, a published poet, succumbed last night to injuries sustained in a car accident. I was supposed to die in your arms some day, but a slippery road has ruined everything. You were not just my love, you were my greatest adventure. https://t.co/re3BCddZEM pic.twitter.com/kofjSGi2j2
— Dr. Robert Epstein (@DrREpstein) December 28, 2019
Local media reports that Vaughn lost control of her Ford Ranger and hit a semi truck carrying two trailers.
Epstein testified before Congress that Google is capable of swinging millions of votes for the Democrats, and suggested they may have already employed some of their tactics in 2018 and 2016.
Specifically, Epstein claimed that, according to his research, Google attempted to give Clinton an advantage in the 2016 presidential election.
In his written testimony, Epstein claimed that “Google presents a serious threat to democracy and human autonomy”:
I have been a research psychologist for nearly 40 years and have also served in various editorial positions at Psychology Today magazine and Scientific American MIND. I received my Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1981 and have since published 15 books and more than 300 scientific and mainstream articles on artificial intelligence and other topics. Since 2012, some of my research and writings have focused on Google LLC, specifically on the company’s power to suppress content – the censorship problem, if you will – as well as on the massive surveillance the company conducts, and also on the company’s unprecedented ability to manipulate the thoughts and behavior of more than 2.5 billion people worldwide.
Data I’ve collected since 2016 show that Google displays content to the American public that is biased in favor on one political party (Epstein & Williams, 2019) – a party I happen to like, but that’s irrelevant. No private company should have either the right or the power to manipulate large populations without their knowledge.
In addition to his written testimony, Epstein testified before Congress regarding his findings.
Fellow Google whistleblower Zach Vorhies, who leaked secret Google documents that seemed to show the company’s anti-Trump and anti-conservative biases, also expressed his condolences on Twitter.
“When I first blew the whistle on Google I was put in touch with Robert Epstein,” wrote Vorhies. “During the call his wife got on the phone and was so happy that she cried.”
“Now she is gone.”
“Please pay your respects,” he added.
** PAY RESPECTS **
When I first blew the whistle on Google I was put in touch with Robert Epstein. During the call his wife got on the phone and was so happy that she cried.
Now she is gone.
Please pay your respects by responding to the tweet below with flowers. https://t.co/xE4OJv4jpL
— Zach Vorhies / Google Whistleblower (@Perpetualmaniac) December 28, 2019
Misti Dawn Vaughn was 29 when she died.
