The Justice Department on Thursday requested a stay against a federal judge's preliminary injunction that restricts Biden administration officials and federal agencies from engaging with social media companies on content moderation, a day after it filed an appeal against the ruling that sided with Republican-led states who argued that the administration’s actions were suppressing free speech.
A preliminary injunction has barred Biden administration officials from communicating with social ... [+]
In a federal court filing, the DOJ requested a stay on the injunction while it appeals the ruling, arguing that the “preliminary injunction is both sweeping in scope and vague in its terms.”
The filing notes that the “potential breadth” of government agencies and employees covered by the injunction and its broad scope will impact a wide range of government activities, including law enforcement, national security and speaking on matters of public concern.
In the event the court denies the DOJ’s plea for a stay, the agency has requested a seven-day-long “administrative stay” to allow the Fifth Circuit federal appeals court to “consider an emergency motion” for the same.
On Wednesday, the DOJ filed an appeal against the injunction in the Fifth Circuit, the filing for which was made public on Thursday.