#Banned: Louisiana Judge Bars Certain Federal Agencies from Contacting Social Media Firms

In a freedom-infused turn of events on July 4, Louisiana U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty laid some smackdown on the Biden administration.

Judge Doughty not only ruled that the Biden administration “likely violated the First Amendment by censoring unfavorable views on social media over the course of the coronavirus pandemic,” but he also barred certain federal agencies and/or Biden cronies from “having any contact with social media firms for the purpose of discouraging or removing First Amendment-protected speech.”

Some of the agencies and individuals banned in the preliminary injunction include:

• White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
• The FBI
• Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
• Employees of the Justice Department
• Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra

This ruling stems from a lawsuit by Republicans which alleges the Biden administration put the kibosh on topics like the pandemic and the election on social media platforms.

In his memorandum ruling on the request for preliminary injunction, Judge Doughty wrote, “This case is about the Free Speech Clause in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The explosion of social-media platforms has resulted in unique free speech issues—this is especially true in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. If the allegations made by Plaintiffs are true, the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States’ history. In their attempts to suppress alleged disinformation, the Federal Government, and particularly the Defendants named here, are alleged to have blatantly ignored the First Amendment’s right to free speech.”

More of this judge, por favor.

The fact that this ruling was issued on the Fourth of July makes me all sorts of happy. It’s rumored—by me—that a bald eagle flew over the courthouse while Judge Doughty signed off on his memorandum.

Time will tell if the Biden administration decides to appeal the ruling. But for now, a little bit of justice has been served.