Twitter refuses U.S. order to reveal user behind anti-Trump account | Reuters

This sounds like it lacks a legitimate purpose...

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“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”
~Abraham Lincoln

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Granny says, "Dat's right...

... dey's a buncha anti-American...

... socialists an' traitors."

It is not about freedom of speech.

From the OP.

It is about masquerading as government agencies and potentially violating the Hatch act if the content is written by Federal employees.

It is anti Trump propaganda so it is OK no matter the laws it violates.

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What is a 30 something year old single man with a rock in one hand and a Honduran flag in the other?

An asylum seeker.

It's relevant as per how the intent of the lawsuit is obviously to impact freedom of speech.


"masquerading as government agencies"...

I don't see anybody confused as to whether these accounts are "government agencies".

And you really need to document your claim that it supposedly violates the Hatch Act...

The 1939 Act forbids the intimidation or bribery of voters and restricts political campaign activities by federal employees. It prohibits using any public funds designated for relief or public works for electoral purposes. It forbids officials paid with federal funds from using promises of jobs, promotion, financial assistance, contracts, or any other benefit to coerce campaign contributions or political support. It provides that persons below the policy-making level in the executive branch of the federal government must not only refrain from political practices that would be illegal for any citizen, but must abstain from "any active part" in political campaigns, using this language to specify those who are exempt:[6]

(i) an employee paid from an appropriation for the Executive Office of the President; or
(ii) an employee appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, whose position is located within the United States, who determines policies to be pursued by the United States in the nationwide administration of Federal laws.

The act also precludes federal employees from membership in "any political organization which advocates the overthrow of our constitutional form of government,"[7] a provision meant to prohibit membership in organizations on the far left and far right, such as the German-American Bund and the Communist Party USA.[8]

An amendment on July 19, 1940 extended the Act to certain employees of state and local governments whose positions are primarily paid for by federal funds. It has been interpreted to bar political activity on the part of employees of state agencies administering federal unemployment insurance programs and appointed local law enforcement agency officials with oversight of federal grant funds. The Hatch Act bars state and local government employees from running for public office if any federal funds support the position, even if the position is funded almost entirely with local funds.[9]

The Merit Systems Protection Board and its Office of Special Counsel are responsible for enforcement of the Hatch Act.[10]

One of the ways it's easily recognizable your claim is b.s. is the approach the government is taking.
They aren't demanding the accounts be stricken or renamed. That is the logical approach if this was a violation as you claim.
They're asking for the owners to be unmasked. Which should tell people a LOT about the real intents.


The article clearly addresses the specious and b.s. claims as to legal violations.
"anti Trump" has nothing to do with my position. I suspect it has everything to do with yours.

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“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”
~Abraham Lincoln

And I'd call you a friggin liar.

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Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war.

Donald Trump

You calling people names. And ignoring the actual topic of the thread.
Doesn't take Kreskin to predict that...

Back to the topic, do you support the government's effort to demand Twitter reveal the owners of those accounts?
If yes, on what grounds does the government have the right to force a corporation to unveil it's authorized users?

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“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”
~Abraham Lincoln

And the plot thickens...

Inspector General John Roth informed Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in a letter Friday that his office is conducting a probe to determine whether behavior by federal officials concerning the Twitter account was “improper in any way” or if there was an “abuse of authority.”

....
Wyden, who called the action against Twitter a “witch hunt,” complained in a letter to the CBP commissioner that he was concerned the summons represented a “disturbing threat to free speech and whistleblower protections” — and he called for an investigation.

Roth, who received a copy of Wyden’s letter, wrote to the senator that DHS had determined, at CBP’s request, that no classified information was released via the @ALT_uscis Twitter account. Roth said his own office was unaware of the effort to unmask the identity of the Twitter account holder until officials read about it in the media.

“We strive to ensure that our work does not have a chilling effect on individuals’ free speech rights,” wrote Roth, who emphasized that his office “is not ... and will not investigate, any alleged misconduct on the part of the @ALT_uscis account owner relating to his or her use of the Twitter account.”

His office is, however, investigating whether CBP’s conduct concerning the Twitter account was “improper in any way, including whether CBP abused its authority in issuing the .... summons to Twitter.” Roth added that his office is “also reviewing potential broader misuse of summons authority.”

Federal 'Witch Hunt' Against Trump Twitter Critic Sparks Investigation

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“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”
~Abraham Lincoln