Judge Terry Doughty ruled against the Biden Administration’s bid to pause a preliminary injunction, as the appeals process unfolds in the landmark First Amendment case revealed on Independence Day.
Involved as plaintiffs in this case are the States of Missouri and Louisiana, alongside Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, Dr. Martin Kulldorff, Jim Hoft, Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya, and Jill Hines.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration had signaled last week its intention to dispute a recent court mandate prohibiting a host of administrative officials, including the entire Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Justice (DOJ), from engaging with social media companies to remove content shielded by the First Amendment.
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The injunction was issued by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, on July 4.
The case forms part of a broader initiative spearheaded by states governed by Republicans, who assert that the administration’s collaboration with social media outlets is an unjust attempt to mute viewpoints that aren’t in their favor on digital platforms.
The Hill reported that the Department of Justice filed an appeal notice on Wednesday.
It is anticipated that the appeal will be directed to the Fifth Circuit, which is predominantly composed of Republican-appointed judges.
A spokesperson from the DOJ suggested that the department is likely to seek a postponement of the decision.
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The Biden administration has been under considerable scrutiny regarding its initiatives to rein in online misinformation.
Critics argue these initiatives, in reality, aim to stifle disagreement with government narratives.
Importantly, Judge Doughty’s order does not prohibit the administration from collaborating with social media platforms to tackle illicit activities.
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