Trump can't block you on Twitter, but he sure wants to
Justice Department says it'll appeal the ruling that Trump can't block people on Twitter.
If you thought a court ruling would stop President Donald Trump from blocking people on Twitter , you thought wrong.
The US Department of Justice on Monday said it'll appeal a federal judge's ruling that President Donald Trump may not legally block Twitter users from his account on the social media platform, Reuters reported.
The White House didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The Justice Department said in an email statement that they have no further comment beyond that they're appealing.
Seven Twitter users sued Trump last July after they were blocked from the @readlDonaldTrump account. Lawyers from the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, which sued on behalf of the plaintiffs, argued the president's action violated their First Amendment rights, pointing to Trump's use of Twitter to make prolific and often controversial statements about public policy.
US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald ruled on May 23 that public officials, including the president himself, may not block people from their Twitter accounts because of their expressed political views.
The Knight Institute confirmed that the @realDonaldTrump account had unblocked the seven plaintiffs.
"We're pleased that the White House unblocked our clients from the President's Twitter account but disappointed that the government intends to appeal the district court's thoughtful and well-supported ruling," said Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight Institute, in an emailed statement. "We look forward to defending the ruling in the Second Circuit."
If Trump really doesn't like someone on Twitter, he could still "mute" them.
First published June 5, 6:41 a.m. PT.
Update, 9:29 a.m. PT: Adds Knight Institute statement and Justice Department statement.
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