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Trump violated the Constitution when he blocked his critics on Twitter, a federal judge rules
The Washington Post ^ | May 23, 2018 | Brian Fung

Posted on 05/23/2018 8:05:33 PM PDT by Trump20162020

President Trump's decision to block his Twitter followers for their political views is a violation of the First Amendment, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, saying that Trump's effort to silence his critics is not permissible because the digital space in which he engages with constituents is a public forum.

The ruling rejects administration arguments that the First Amendment does not apply to Trump in this case because he was acting as a private individual. In a 75-page decision, Judge Naomi Buchwald said Trump, as a federal official, is not exempt from constitutional obligations to refrain from "viewpoint discrimination."

"No government official — including the President — is above the law," wrote Buchwald for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Noah Feldman, a Harvard law professor, said he thinks the case was wrongly decided and expects it to be reversed. For a public forum to exist, the government has to own or control it, he said, but in this case, Twitter also controls Trump's account.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: 4ththread; activistjudge; activistjudges; buchwaldiffofsmith; buchwaldsayspublic; donaldtrump; lawsuit; naomibuchwald; naomireicebuchwald; newmedia; ruling; seescotusjan6ruling; smithtrumpprivateact; trump; twitter
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Naomi Buchwald was appointed by Bill Clinton and said of Sarah Palin and her Down syndrome child, Trig: "That kid was used as a prop, and that to me as a parent blew my mind."
1 posted on 05/23/2018 8:05:33 PM PDT by Trump20162020
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To: Trump20162020

A fully delusional leftist. But I repeat myself.


2 posted on 05/23/2018 8:08:36 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (Apoplectic is where we want them)
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To: Trump20162020

Obama violated nothing when he did the exact same thing.


3 posted on 05/23/2018 8:08:47 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (MAGA/KAG!!!)
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To: Trump20162020

That judge is a moron, and should be thrown off the bench.


4 posted on 05/23/2018 8:08:58 PM PDT by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
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To: Trump20162020

Twitter blocking is obviously a high crime and misdemeanor... they got him now!


5 posted on 05/23/2018 8:09:39 PM PDT by bigbob (Trust Sessions. Trust the Plan.)
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To: Trump20162020

We should refer to her as Naomi Buchenwald, It’s a better fit for her.


6 posted on 05/23/2018 8:10:44 PM PDT by vette6387
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To: bigbob

Quick, call Maxine Waters!


7 posted on 05/23/2018 8:12:45 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Trump20162020

Trump still has that Twitter function he should block several for the fun of it.


8 posted on 05/23/2018 8:13:09 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Trump20162020

Buchenwald has no standing.


9 posted on 05/23/2018 8:13:14 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj ("It's Slappin' Time !")
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To: Trump20162020

Does this ruling apply to hecklers at a speech as well?


10 posted on 05/23/2018 8:14:53 PM PDT by joshua c (To disrupt the system, we must disrupt our lives)
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To: Trump20162020

“It became neccessary to destroy the First Amendment to save it...”


11 posted on 05/23/2018 8:24:49 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: Trump20162020

So then this should mean that NO politician on Twitter can block any Freepers, or anyone else, for any reason then, right?

If that’s the case, I propose we avail ourselves of this newfound immunity from a lefty pols blocking abilities!


12 posted on 05/23/2018 8:29:04 PM PDT by zencycler
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To: Trump20162020

>>, Judge Naomi Buchwald said Trump, as a federal official, is not exempt from constitutional obligations to refrain from “viewpoint discrimination.”

Does this ban on “federal officials” having “viewpoint discrimination” mean jailtime for the Obamunists who targeted private citizens from government offices (EPA, IRS, etc)?

Does it mean an end to the #RESISTANCE by unelected co-conspirators of Hitlery Rottern Clinton?


13 posted on 05/23/2018 8:29:28 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Ads for Chappaquiddick warn of scenes of tobacco use. What about the hazards of drunk driving?)
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To: Trump20162020

Blocking a twitter follower does not silence them. They are free to tweet away. Judge is a moron.


14 posted on 05/23/2018 8:29:43 PM PDT by Pikachu_Dad ("the media are selling you a line of soap)
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To: bigbob

Next thing will be Trump forced to read all these twitters and make reports to be sure he doesn’t ignore them.


15 posted on 05/23/2018 8:30:02 PM PDT by RightLady (Adam Schiff is NOT Adam Smith)
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To: Red Steel

I’m surprised Twitter hasn’t blocked Trump yet.


16 posted on 05/23/2018 8:31:57 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Democracy: The cliff's edge of Marxism)
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To: Trump20162020

Time to regulate Twitter as a public utility, then.


17 posted on 05/23/2018 8:35:00 PM PDT by WKTimpco
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To: Trump20162020

If the courts are saying this, then all the anti-conservative censorship on social media should be unconstitutional as well.


18 posted on 05/23/2018 8:36:50 PM PDT by Unam Sanctam
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
A contractor 'inadvertently' deleted Trumps' account for about 11 minutes.

It was a test run.

19 posted on 05/23/2018 8:37:28 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: Pikachu_Dad

I wonder if he has to open and read all his mail I’m not the most twitter savvy but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work that way. I wonder if he knows stuff like this actually helps the president and grows his base.


20 posted on 05/23/2018 8:38:55 PM PDT by datricker (Cut Taxes Repeal ACA Deport DACA - Americans First, Build the Wall, Lock her up MAGA!)
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