Biden admin’s ‘vast censorship enterprise’ with help of NGOs slated for key hearing, lawmaker says
Senate Chairman Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., has spoken out against what he described as a \”vast censorship enterprise\” created by the Biden administration. Schmitt criticized the administration’s use of federal agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to limit speech and posts that were deemed \”disfavored.\” The Missouri senator will lead a key Senate hearing on Tuesday to examine the Biden administration’s collaboration with outside entities to censor Americans.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Schmitt highlighted the level of coordination that went into subverting the First Amendment and removing speech that was not in line with the administration’s agenda. He pointed to special reporting portals and instances where the White House press secretary admitted to flagging posts for removal as examples of the administration’s efforts to silence dissenting voices.
Schmitt, who previously filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its alleged collusion with tech companies and social media to censor individuals, emphasized the importance of holding social media companies and bureaucrats accountable for censorship. He also stressed the need to expose the role NGOs played in the administration’s censorship efforts and to continue fighting for Americans’ First Amendment rights.
The hearing will focus on the role NGOs have played in censoring Americans during the Biden administration, with Schmitt leading the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution in this investigation. The senator’s past legal actions against the administration, along with his efforts to introduce legislation addressing censorship, demonstrate his commitment to protecting free speech rights.
U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty previously rejected the Biden Justice Department’s attempt to pause a preliminary injunction that barred the administration from communicating with social media companies about \”protected speech.\” The injunction highlighted the collaboration between NGOs and the State Department in flagging and reporting posts for suppression, particularly those from right-wing or conservative political figures and organizations.
Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to reject a bid to stop the administration from pressuring social media platforms to remove certain content, critics have raised concerns about the impact of such censorship on public discourse and the free exchange of ideas. The House Judiciary Committee’s report on COVID-19 censorship revealed instances where the Biden administration pressured tech companies to censor information and opinions critical of its policies.
As the Senate prepares to delve into the Biden administration’s censorship practices, Schmitt’s leadership in exposing and challenging these efforts will be critical in defending Americans’ right to free speech. The hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, will provide a platform for further investigation into the administration’s collaboration with outside entities to limit speech and suppress dissenting voices.
