Rep. Jim Jordan trolled himself on the idea that Twitter “violated the First Amendment” when they suppressed the Hunter laptop story.
He then admitted private companies don’t have to comply with the First Amendment. Those dang facts!!!
Three former Twitter executives are testifying before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, examining the social media platform’s decision to suppress a New York Post story about Hunter Biden’s laptop in 2020.
Earlier in the hearing, Rep. Raskin explained what the First Amendment actually means to the Republican members, since they have taken Sarah Palin’s ignorant definition to heart. So Jordan believed he needed to respond in some fashion. And boy, did he ever.
“To Mr. Raskin’s point that you guys aren’t bound to the First Amendment because you’re a private company,” Jordan said. “Okay, maybe so.”
Jordan just admitted Twitter and the federal government did nothing wrong, and this entire hearing is a sham.
“And your terms of service don’t have to comply with the First Amendment. Would that be right, Mr. Roth,” he asked.
“My understanding of the First Amendment is that it protects people and businesses from government, not…”
“I understand,” Jordan interrupted.
Then Jordan asked if there was a violation of the First Amendment if the FBI sent emails to Twitter saying, “We think these accounts need to be looked at because they violate your terms of service.”
That’s a different standard. Your terms of service, which don’t have to apply with the First Amendment, but the government saying we don’t think these accounts comply with your terms of service ‘please take them down,’ you see a problem there, Mr. Roth?” Jordan asked.
“Do I think if that’s a valuable use of the FBI’s time, no, but I don’t see in a request for review a problem under the First Amendment.’ Roth said.
“I sure do,” Jordan said and then yielded his time to Rep. Connolly, who pounced.
“My, my, my, what happens when you hold a hearing and can’t prove your point?” Connolly said.
That brought some laughter to the chamber.
I’ve never seen a Chairman of a House Committee who called for said hearing, destroy his own case in just a few minutes.
This is how completely bankrupt House Republicans are. Actual facts NEVER help their case.
UPDATE: It gets worse.
