Rep. Ro Khanna of California was the only Democrat concerned that Twitter was violating the First Amendment when the social media platform suppressed the New York Post’s Hunter Biden laptop story, Matt Taibbi reported Friday.
Taibbi, a Rolling Stone contributing editor, released what Elon Musk called “The Twitter Files,” Friday afternoon. In the Twitter thread, Taibbi shared an email showing that Khanna reportedly contacted Vijaya Gadde, former general counsel and head of legal, policy, and trust at Twitter.
“Democratic congressman Ro Khanna reaches out to Gadde to gently suggest she hop on the phone to talk about the ‘backlash re speech,’” Taibbi tweeted. “Khanna was the only Democratic official I could find in the files who expressed concern.”
30. In one humorous exchange on day 1, Democratic congressman Ro Khanna reaches out to Gadde to gently suggest she hop on the phone to talk about the “backlash re speech.” Khanna was the only Democratic official I could find in the files who expressed concern. pic.twitter.com/TSSYOs5vfy
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 3, 2022
The documents Taibbi posted show that Gadde apparently replied to Khanna, explaining that Twitter released a clarifying thread of tweets previously that day that explained the policy around posting private information on “hacked materials.” The document further showed that Trump Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s account was not permanently suspended but she would need to delete “the tweet containing material that is in violation” of Twitter’s rules.
Gadde replies quickly, immediately diving into the weeds of Twitter policy, unaware Khanna is more worried about the Bill of Rights: pic.twitter.com/U4FRLYYPaY
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 3, 2022
Khanna then explained that he is more concerned about First Amendment principles, even as a “Biden partisan,” according to the documents posted by Taibbi.
32.Khanna tries to reroute the conversation to the First Amendment, mention of which is generally hard to find in the files: pic.twitter.com/Tq6l7VMuQL
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 3, 2022
“If there is a hack of classified information or other information that could expose a serious war crime and the NYT was to publish it, I think the NYT should have that right,” he reportedly told Gadde, according to Taibbi’s tweet. (RELATED: ‘Absolutely Shocking’: Fox News Contributor Reacts To ‘Coordinated Effort’ By Former Twitter Execs)
32.Khanna tries to reroute the conversation to the First Amendment, mention of which is generally hard to find in the files: pic.twitter.com/Tq6l7VMuQL
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 3, 2022
Carl Szabo from NetChoice, a research company, reportedly let Twitter know a “blood bath” was awaiting them in upcoming Capitol Hill hearings, according to Taibbi’s Twitter thread. Szabo allegedly explained that Democrats agreed that “social media needs to moderate more.”
36.Twitter files continued:
“THE FIRST AMENDMENT ISN’T ABSOLUTE”
Szabo’s letter contains chilling passages relaying Democratic lawmakers’ attitudes. They want “more” moderation, and as for the Bill of Rights, it’s “not absolute” pic.twitter.com/cWdNYIprp8— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 3, 2022
“Ro Khanna is great,” current CEO of Twitter Elon Musk replied to Taibbi.