Staff Reports
Jack Smith, the Special Counsel, has been in the spotlight lately due to his involvement in the indictments against former President Donald Trump. However, there is another matter that has come to light involving Smith and Twitter. It seems that Smith obtained a search warrant for records related to Trump’s Twitter account as part of the 2020 election case. Twitter objected to the production request and chose to litigate the matter, which was only recently revealed. A Court of Appeals opinion stated that Twitter’s challenge was denied, and when Twitter finally complied with the warrant, they were held in contempt and fined $350,000.
Why Is Jack Smith Doing Battle With Twitter Over Donald Trump? https://t.co/T9yzJLF21n
— RedState (@RedState) August 9, 2023
It’s a curious situation, to say the least. Why would Smith need records from Trump’s Twitter account? And why did Twitter object so strongly? While the details are not immediately clear, it appears that the government believed there was probable cause to search the account for evidence of criminal offenses. Twitter argued that the nondisclosure order violated its First Amendment rights and hindered its ability to provide notice to its users. Unfortunately for Twitter, the court ruled against them, citing the need to protect the integrity of an ongoing criminal investigation.
From a conservative perspective, it’s important that law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to investigate potential criminal activity. If there is evidence to suggest that Trump’s Twitter account may contain such evidence, then it is reasonable for Smith to seek a search warrant. Twitter’s objections seem misguided, especially considering that compliance with the warrant would not prevent Trump from asserting executive privilege if necessary. Ultimately, it appears that the court made the correct decision in upholding the warrant and holding Twitter accountable for its delayed compliance.
