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Twitter Files Setting Stage for Reckoning on 2020 Election Interference

Posted on Monday, December 5, 2022
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by Shane Harris
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61 Comments
Twitter

AMAC Exclusive – By Shane Harris

New Twitter owner Elon Musk set the internet ablaze Friday afternoon by suddenly announcing that, after reviewing the company’s internal documents, the public would soon learn “what really happened with the Hunter Biden story suppression by Twitter.” A few hours later, journalist Matt Taibbi (to whom Musk had presumably given the documents) released a roughly 40-tweet thread in what Musk hinted was just the first installation of “The Twitter Files.”

In the end, the series of screenshots and revelations that Taibbi published wasn’t the “smoking gun” that many conservatives had hoped would take down Big Tech, the Democratic Party, and the mainstream media in one fell swoop. But the Twitter thread nonetheless confirmed long-held suspicions about collusion between Big Tech and elected Democrats, and it proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Twitter “moderators” indeed suppressed the Hunter Biden laptop story two years ago without any reason to believe that the story was false or “Russian disinformation.” Perhaps more importantly, Musk’s courageous effort to expose censorship and election meddling has now thrust the issue back to the forefront of the national conversation, paving the way for conservatives in both the media and Congress to continue their struggle against the enemies of free speech.

Taibbi’s Twitter thread began by recounting how Twitter’s “moderation” tools, originally designed to keep content like direct threats of violence and child pornography off the site, eventually evolved into a way for Democrats to outsource censorship to Twitter’s left-wing staff. “More to review from the Biden team,” read one screenshot from October 2020, followed by a series of links that led to posts showing images from the now-infamous Hunter Biden laptop. “Handled,” came the reply a few hours later, presumably indicating that the Biden team’s request to remove the posts had been granted.

As Taibbi recounts, the suppression of the New York Post bombshell story that first broke news of the laptop was only the culmination of a years-long censorship campaign by Twitter staff. When the story was released just a few weeks before the election, internal emails show that it sent Twitter staff into a frenzy, grasping for any justification to block distribution of the article or even mention of the story. This effort resulted in the suspension of the New York Post’s entire account, as well as the account of White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and many other high-profile conservatives.

Initially, the excuse for blocking discussion of the story on Twitter was that the laptop contained “hacked materials.” The only problem, as internal company emails show, is that there was absolutely no evidence that any of the laptop’s contents were hacked. “They just freelanced it,” one employee told Taibbi. “Hacking was the excuse, but within a few hours, pretty much everyone realized that wasn’t going to hold. But no one had the guts to reverse it.”

Communications between top figures at Twitter and Democratic lawmakers in Congress soon after Twitter censored the story confirm what conservatives have long suspected – Democrats and Twitter employees knew that there was no legitimate justification to suppress the story, but Twitter plowed ahead anyway. One unexpected hero of the saga is progressive Congressman Ro Khanna of California, who wrote to Twitter General Counsel Vijaya Gadde that Twitter’s suppression of the story “seems a violation of the 1st Amendment principles… in the heat of a Presidential campaign, restricting dissemination of newspaper articles (even if NY Post is far right) seems like it will invite more backlash than it will do good.” Other Democrats warned that a “bloodbath” awaited Twitter and other Big Tech executives in hearings on Capitol Hill.

Ultimately however, Khanna kept his reservations between himself and Gadde, while other Democrats and the mainstream media continued to lend credence to the narrative that the laptop was “hacked materials” or “Russian disinformation.” The story was effectively scrubbed from the airwaves until after the election, when Twitter and multiple media outlets who attempted to discredit the story begrudgingly issued mea culpas.

An important detail missing – at least from this first chapter of “The Twitter Files” – is a direct link between Twitter employees and government actors in agencies like the FBI or the White House. We know from this tranche of screenshots that members of Biden’s campaign team requested that Twitter remove specific posts and high-profile accounts talking about the story. New York Post columnist Miranda Devine has also claimed that she has seen a sworn affidavit from the Twitter executive ultimately responsible for censoring the story that shows he had met with the FBI and other intelligence officials who had warned him “specifically of what they called a hack and leak operation, a dump of Russian disinformation” involving Hunter Biden, although that document has not been released publicly. What isn’t 100 percent clear yet is if federal bureaucrats specifically requested back in 2020 that Twitter censor the story, or if Biden White House officials – many of whom worked with Twitter to suppress the laptop story while they were on the Biden campaign – have continued to work with Twitter in their official capacity as public servants to censor information.

Those details may be well on the way, and Musk has already promised “Episode 2” of The Twitter Files in the coming days. But nonetheless, Taibbi’s reporting delivered an important bath of sunlight in confirming collusion between the Biden campaign and Twitter employees. For perhaps the first time, the public got a glimpse into the censorship machine inside a Big Tech company and was able to see the direct links between Big Tech executives and Democrat politicians.

It is also important to keep in mind that the “laptop from hell” is just one small part of a much larger story that is not confined to just Twitter. Exposing how censorship works at Twitter may be the key to revealing similar operations at Facebook, Google, and other Big Tech companies. With a new Republican majority in the House of Representatives set to take power in January, there is now clear momentum and public support for inquiries into potential First Amendment violations at Big Tech companies, as well as congressional legislation to protect online speech from political censorship. Amid other revelations about censorship campaigns taking place within the career federal bureaucracy, several congressional Republicans are already agitating for investigations.

In the years ahead, Americans may look back on this moment as the beginning of the end of Big Tech’s covert censorship regime. “The idea here is to come clean on everything that has happened in the past in order to build public trust for the future,” Musk said during a Twitter Spaces discussion on Friday shortly after Taibbi finished his reporting. So far, so good.

Shane Harris is a writer and political consultant from Southwest Ohio. You can follow him on Twitter @Shane_Harris_.

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A Voter
A Voter
1 year ago

The only reckoning taking place is me reckoning the republicans will serve up a platter full of lip service without a drink to wash it down.

A Voter
A Voter
1 year ago

We are always promised by both sides that there is going to be a revaluation coming. In the end it just kind of peters out to a dribble of stuff we already know. The smoking gun? I think it will be more like the gun has icicles hanging off the barrel.

SJVan
SJVan
1 year ago

Now do something about it!!!! We the people need honesty within the government and the news media!

Rob citizenship
Rob citizenship
1 year ago

In the spirit of a general observation and a suggestion for communication involving complex issues – the fundamentals of good management involve planning, organizing, coordination of what is planned and organized , and scheduling . All of those procedures are connected by clear, intelligent communication in order for good decisions to be made, so that good management is achieved. Reference to historical facts, to ethics, to standards, and respect for the will of God are always a good addition to whatever is under consideration. The Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights are good examples of clear, intelligent communication and are at the foundation of what the United States of America is all about.
With a genuine faith in God and respect for truth I believe that those of us who value freedom will prevail . I appreciate AMAC for being the organization that is , great to have a free speech forum such as this.

GTPatriot
GTPatriot
1 year ago

Does anyone really think the the Warnock-Walker vote means anything ? I don’t

GTPatriot
GTPatriot
1 year ago

Musk may be the guy to take these facts and mash the Dims face in them and thus expose some of
the corruption in the DC-Media-Big Tech consortium ( 5% ?) but be assured that our congress will
expose nothing. Musk has upset the crooked DC equilibrium but we all know that the congress will
continue to go along to get along.

David Millikan
David Millikan
1 year ago

We all know that DICTATOR Beijing biden is a Illegitimate and Unconstitutional president.
He and his party not only cheated but committed fraud with election interference.
Especially, the interference with Hunter’s Laptop on Twitter, FASCISTBOOK, and TikTok not to mention the FAKE News.
Not only is this Election Fraud but
TREASON.
ARE YOU, AMERICA, GOING TO KEEP EXCEPTING THIS FRAUD FOR a President AND KEEP LETTING DICTATOR Beijing biden and HIS COMMUNIST PARTY CONTINUE
DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY?

Andrew P
Andrew P
1 year ago

I think a bigger factor in the 2020 election was Trump’s refusal to do the 2nd (virtual) debate, which was scheduled at a time when millions were already sending in mail-in ballots. Trump could have brought up the Hunter laptop before people voted by mail, but chose not to do so.

Steve
Steve
1 year ago

This makes Watergate look like child’s play. If the Republicans don’t investigate, indict and prosecute those involved, this country is finished

Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis
1 year ago

Why shouldn’t the following SNL skit be considered a political ad requiring attribution and cost reporting to the Federal Election Commission?
‘SNL’ takes jabs at Herschel Walker, Ye in Georgia Senate runoff cold open freep.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/12/04/snl-takes-jabs-herschel-walker-georgia-senate-runoff-cold-open/10831305002/

Corporate media were exempted from campaign laws because government could not infringe on their 1st Amendment rights. However, if the 1st Amendment defined the institutional press as the definition of press, there would be no need to exempt them from campaign law:
52 U.S. Code § 30101 – Definitions (9)(B) The term “expenditure” does not include— (i) any news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate; – law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/30101
52 U.S. Code § 30101 created a “Royal”, “State Approved” press!
if candidates and political parties have to pay for time/space in the media, then editorials have political value. The “press exemption” insures the corporate voice retains more influence than the voice of the electorate.
To restore equal rights to citizens, federal candidates, political parties and PACs “We the People” should ask our representatives in the Senate and House to revisit the “Free All Speech Act of 2014.” 

Robin W Boyd
Robin W Boyd
1 year ago

A most important factor of this released information is that Twitter was used as a misinformation network by conspiring with Democrats and Big Tech companies with the purpose of swaying votes for elections. Twitter was the U.S. Pravda.

Kyle Buy you some guns,and learn how to shoot
Kyle Buy you some guns,and learn how to shoot
1 year ago

For speaking the truth or my opinion, I get red flagged on AOL. My cousins husband is banned on Facebook. Yes censorship is alive and well by these big tech people. Kyle L.

SAW
SAW
1 year ago

I like Musk’s slow rollout of whatever information he has. Send it out a little at a time and then lets see how the Dems fumble around and react at their press conferences with little miss Muppet! Then toss out some more, and again and again.

Not even imagining yet what will come out of Brandon’s mouth as he gets cross examined by the (honest) press whenever he steps out in public!!

I’m liking this big time. Merry Christmas to all!

LiamL
LiamL
1 year ago

Govt and corporations joining forces happened before in modern history, Germany 1930’s. Think about it and where we’re headed.

Elizabeth Cheever
Elizabeth Cheever
1 year ago

One lie is a trust breaker. Losing trust is easy. To regain trust is a difficult journey back. To the politicians of our country…..be sure your sins will always find you out. It may take a minute or two but eventually, the lies and deceit will surface somewhere, somehow, by someone. Good job Mr. Musk!!

PaulE
PaulE
1 year ago

Rather than rely on these shallow articles lightly touching on the contents of the Twitter files Elon Musk started releasing last Friday, I recommend people actually spend the time to read through some of this information themselves. That is if they really care about what both social media and the administrative state of the federal government did to manipulate the outcome of the 2020 election to ensure Joe Biden was installed in the White House.

It details not only the intentional bias and manipulation carried out by Twitter employees to suppress information that would have cost Joe Biden the 2020 election, but it also highlights the depths various agencies (FBI, CIA, DOJ and others) and personnel of the federal government took to ensure Joe Biden would replace Donald Trump in the White House. With more releases of information from Twitter coming in the near term, Elon Musk is doing more to shine the bright light of truth on the whole stinking organized coup than Congress could ever hope to uncover in the next 2 years of dog and pony show congressional hearings.

Unfortunately, the way Washington works no one will be held accountable or suffer any real consequences for their actions. It’s not that laws weren’t broken, but rather that there is no political will to address the rule of law when it comes to either protected high-level Democrats or the administrative state as a whole. Of course the American people could raise a real stink and be highly vocal about this to force action on the part of politicians, but that’s not the American people of today. We’ve become a much more docile and compliant people (sheep) willing to take anything.

Still it is good to see someone like Elon Musk standing up and keeping his word on disclosing this information and standing up for free speech. It just goes to show that people born in other countries value the rights and freedoms that the United States offers more than a lot of Americans apparently do.

Lee M
Lee M
1 year ago

Now the MSM will censor THIS story about censorship. Until this stuff is seen on every possible platform, for the uneducated masses to see, it will just be irrelevant. That should be the next target.

KJHanover
KJHanover
1 year ago

Add this to the fraudulent voting practices and oh boy. They wanted to make sure President Trump lost, in any way they had to. Republicans need to get their dead asses in gear for a change.

KJHanover
KJHanover
1 year ago

So now ANOTHER ‘investigation’ on what’s already been investigated. An investigation that stretches out forever and nothing will ever be done.

Laura
Laura
1 year ago

Good for Elon Musk. I love this guy!

Bill on the Hill
Bill on the Hill
1 year ago

Great story Shane Harris… I believe the Twitter revelations, thanks in no small part to Musk will expand to other Big Tech firms as one I’ll be looking at closely is Google, more specifically, YouTube, they have been censoring me for close to ( 2 ) years now…YT also uses those specific algorithms to pop up Red Flags on users that use certain words, i.e. MAGA, America First, Trump & numerous other key words spoken on their platform… It has gotten so bad on YT, as most all of us are already fully aware or should be, even the publishers utilizing YT, have to now SELF CENSOR themselves, what a crying shame as our beloved 1st amendment rights are utterly voided by Google as they are in my opinion, far worse than Twitter & a far more wealthier company…
All the best,
Bill… :~)

Jeri
Jeri
1 year ago

The best we can hope and pray for is exposure…and sometimes that is enough. Just knowing who and what someone really is, can sometimes be enough. There is power in shunning and turning your back on evil people.

Jerry
Jerry
1 year ago

I hope we have some good people with the integrity and the guts to get to the bottom of all this corruption and expose it for everyone to see.

Rik
Rik
1 year ago

What has the Republican Leadership learned? . . . I’m afraid NOT ENOUGH!!!

Jim
Jim
1 year ago

FACT CHECKERS I HAVE A SMALL CHORE FOR YOU!!
“They never got back with me” “must have hurt their feelings”

“MY VIEW” Watching ABC, CBS and NBC’s Jan 6th then back tracking to recount the lead up to Jan 6th.

THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT REALLY CAUSED JAN 6 TH INSURRECTION

“The Divided United States”
  Lets look back in time and see who is really at fault, from 2017 the democrats and their media’s that took orders from Pres Obama “RESIST” RESIST” “The democrats did all four years!!!!!   

( 1 ) “DEMOCRATS THE ILLEGAL IMPEACHMENT” of Pres. Trump for bring to light Biden flying his son to Ukraine and his son getting slam dunked into a CEO of an energy company! Ukraine hires an investigator to see how that happed?? Ukraine was forced to fire the investigator! 

TREATY WITH UKRAINE ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS
           _________

Message from 

          THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

               transmitting

TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND UKRAINE ON MUTUAL LEGAL 
 ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS WITH ANNEX, SIGNED AT KIEV ON JULY 22, 
1998, AND WITH AN EXCHANGE OF NOTES SIGNED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1999, WHICH 
        PROVIDES FOR ITS PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

 November 10, 1999.–Treaty was read the first time, and together with 
the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
     and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate.

                __________

          U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
79-118           WASHINGTON : 1999

             LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

               ———-                

                The White House, November 10, 1999.
To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the 
Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty Between 
the United States of America and Ukraine on Mutual Legal 
Assistance in Criminal Matters with Annex, signed at Kiev on 
July 22, 1998. I transmit also, for the information of the 
Senate, an exchange of notes which was signed on September 30, 
1999, which provides for its provisional application, as well 
as the report of the Department of State with respect to the 
Treaty.
  The Treaty is one of a series of modern mutual legal 
assistance treaties being negotiated by the United States in 
order to counter criminal activities more effectively. The 
Treaty should be an effective tool to assist in the prosecution 
of a wide variety of crimes, including drug trafficking 
offenses. The Treaty is self-executing. It provides for a broad 
range of cooperation in criminal matters. Mutual assistance 
available under the Treaty includes: taking of testimony or 
statements of persons; providing documents, records, and 
articles of evidence; serving documents; locating or 
identifying persons; transferring persons in custody for 
testimony or other purposes; executing requests for searches 
and seizures; assisting in proceedings related to restraint, 
confiscation, forfeiture of assets, restitution, and collection 
of fines; and any other form of assistance not prohibited by 
the laws of the requested state.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable 
consideration to the Treaty and give its advice and consent to 
ratification.

                        William J. Clinton.
             LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

( 2 ) Then you democrats allowed a lot of damage to communities with the so called BLACK LIVES MATER PROTEST, “ what I chuckled at is the life of a off duty black cop was killed during the luting!! “BUT HIS LIFE DID NOT MATER TO YOU” all he got was just a short blip on the news ????

( 3 ) Then we had DEMOCRATS & the threat of de-funding our law enforcement!!!!

And you democrats and leftist media’s ask why did so many people show up in front of the US CAPITAL ????? 

 (4 ) DEMOCRATS SAY WE HAD A NORMAL YEAR ELECTION, but because of the COVID 19, there were un-manned, unsecured drop box’s placed through towns and city’s. 

*There were like 3 or 4 states that allowed non – citizens to vote in city & state elections. Hold on “if any of these non citizen’s walked in or mailed in a ballet what RED FLAG would pop up? They are STATE REGISTER VOTERS? 

So have you got enough Illegal’s here in the UNITED STATES to vote democrat TO GUARANTY YOU FILL THE HOUSE AND SENATE????

No one allows NONE CITIZENS TO VOTE ALL SO!!!!

Yes, Some US States Already Allow Noncitizen Voting

By Fred Lucas Published December 27, 2021

19fortyfive.com/2021/12/yes-some-us-states-already-allow-noncitizen-voting/

The $64,000.00 question is if any of them vote for US President! “WHAT RED FLAG POPS UP????

Philip Hammersley
Philip Hammersley
1 year ago

As far as we know, only ONE DIMM (himself a far-leftist) opposed Twitter’s censoring of free speech–Ro Khanna.

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
1 year ago

Will Big Tech revive for 2024 minus Twitter?
NO 2020 reruns

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