Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) defended censorship, arguing that certain views should not enjoy the First Amendment free speech protections, which they said were limited by the Supreme Court.
The ranking member of the minority on the House Weaponization Subcommittee attacked presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy for his views on COVID-19 affecting certain race groups, calling them hateful.
“This is not the free speech that I know of,” she said, recalling RFK’s comments.
Plaskett continued:
“Free speech is not an absolute,” Stacey Plaskett declared disregarding the fundamentals of the First Amendment.
“The Supreme Court has stated that.” (The Court has not restricted the content of speech, but a “time, place, and manner” exception for the way speech is expressed.)
Plaskett also claimed that Republicans had not invited Kennedy to testify because of his being censored on social media but to associate themselves with his controversial views.
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She also claimed that past witnesses, such as would-be “disinformation czar” Nina Jancowicz, had been subjected to death threats and suggested committee chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) supported the threats.
Plaskett claimed Republicans were not interested in defending free speech but instead wanted social media companies to promote “any conspiracy theories,.”
She added:
“They want to force social media companies to promote conspiracy theories because they think that’s the only way their candidate can win the 2020 [sic] election.”
She said that Congress should be focused on issues like inflation instead.
“This is a hearing on censorship that began with an effort .. to censor Mr. Kennedy!” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) exclaimed.
Kennedy defended his record in his opening statement, noting he was censored for talking about ordinary subjects.
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18 U.S.C. § 242
This provision makes it a crime for someone acting under color of law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. It is not necessary that the offense be motivated by racial bias or by any other animus.