The US special counsel investigating Donald Trump acquired a search warrant for the former president’s Twitter account in January. However, the social media platform, now known as X, initially delayed complying with the warrant. This information was revealed in an opinion by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Wednesday.
The appeals court affirmed the federal trial judge’s decision to hold Twitter in contempt and impose a fine of $350,000 (approximately Rs. 3 crore). Twitter had expressed concerns about the First Amendment rights when they received a nondisclosure order alongside the warrant. They desired to inform Trump about the warrant.
“Given the circumstances, the court’s decision to hold Twitter in contempt and levy a $350,000 penalty was reasonable and justified,” stated the ruling.
In response to the news, Trump took to his social media site, Truth Social, claiming that the Justice Department had secretly targeted his Twitter account without notifying him. He referred to this as a major violation of his civil rights.
Typically, prosecutors request that targets of subpoenas issued in criminal investigations remain unaware to safeguard the integrity of their inquiries. The appeals court cited this common practice in its ruling.
A spokesperson for Smith, the US special counsel, declined to comment on the matter. Additionally, there was no immediate response from X, previously known as Twitter, when asked for a statement.
The recent opinion does not disclose the identity of the judge who held Twitter in contempt.
While Trump’s tweets are publicly accessible, Twitter also possesses non-public information such as direct messages, tweet drafts, location details, and device information related to tweet activity.
The search warrant was connected to Smith’s investigation into the events surrounding the siege on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The siege was led by Trump supporters during his presidency.
Recently, Republican Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of plotting to overturn his November 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump is currently the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
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Alex Smith is a writer and editor with over 10 years of experience. He has written extensively on a variety of topics, including technology, business, and personal finance. His work has been published in a number of magazines and newspapers, and he is also the author of two books. Alex is passionate about helping people learn and grow, and he believes that writing is a powerful tool for communication and understanding.
