Twitter sues Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), trying to block his office of alleged retaliation against the company for its decision to ban the former President Trump
Donald Trump Trump promises “There will be no more money for RINOS,” instead of encouraging donations to his federal judge that the federal judge considers the “QAnon shaman” too dangerous to be released from prison. Pelosi says the Capitol riots were one of the most difficult moments of his career MORE from the platform.
Politico first filed the lawsuit Monday evening, filed in Northern California. The lawsuit accuses Paxton of using the powers of his elected office to retaliate against the company for what he called a protected decision under the First Amendment.
The Hill has contacted Twitter and the Texas Attorney General for comment.
“Paxton made it clear that he will use all the weight of his office, including his broad powers of investigation, to retaliate against Twitter for making editorial decisions with which he disagrees,” Twitter lawyers said in court documents, according to Politico.
“Twitter seeks to prevent AG Paxton from illegally abusing its authority as Texas State Law Enforcement Officer to intimidate, harass and attack Twitter in retaliation for its Twitter exercise rights of the first amendment, “they continued, according to Politico. .
The lawsuit is based on Paxton’s vote to investigate Twitter over its decision to ban Trump from the platform following the deadly breach of the U.S. Capitol in January. Paxton sent a civil investigation lawsuit to the company requesting information about the ban in mid-January, the Texas Tribune reported.
Twitter permanently suspended Trump’s account on Jan. 8, two days after the riot, explaining at the time that two of the president’s tweets sent after the riot could be interpreted as tolerance of violence.
“Due to the continuing tensions in the United States and the increase in global conversation regarding the people who violently stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, these two Tweets should be read in the context of the country’s broader events and the ways in which the president’s various statements can be mobilized by different audiences, including to incite violence, as well as in the context of the pattern of behavior of this account in recent weeks. ” , the company said at the time.