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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiRWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDEvMDcvdXMvcG9saXRpY3MvdHJ1bXAtc2VsZi1wYXJkb24uaHRtbNIBSWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDEvMDcvdXMvcG9saXRpY3MvdHJ1bXAtc2VsZi1wYXJkb24uYW1wLmh0bWw?oc=5
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<p id=”article-summary” class=”css-w6ymp8 e1wiw3jv0″>The discussions occurred in recent weeks, and it was not clear whether he has brought it up since he incited supporters to march on the Capitol, where some stormed the site.</p><section name=”articleBody” class=”meteredContent css-1r7ky0e”><div class=”css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn”><div class=”css-53u6y8″><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>President Trump has suggested to aides he wants to pardon himself in the final days of his presidency, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions, a move that would mark one of the most extraordinary and untested uses of presidential power in American history.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>In several conversations since Election Day, Mr. Trump has told advisers that he is considering giving himself a pardon and, in other instances, asked whether he should and what the effect would be on him legally and politically, according to the two people. It was not clear whether he had broached the topic since he incited his supporters on Wednesday to march on <a class=”css-1g7m0tk” href=”https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/06/us/trump-mob-capitol-building.html?action=click&amp;module=Spotlight&amp;pgtype=Homepage” title>the Capitol, where some stormed the building in a mob attack</a>.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>Mr. Trump has shown signs that his level of interest in pardoning himself goes beyond idle musings. He has long maintained he has the power to pardon himself, and his polling of aides’ views is typically a sign that he is preparing to follow through on his aims. He has also become increasingly convinced that his perceived enemies will use the levers of law enforcement to target him after he leaves office.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>No president has pardoned himself, so the legitimacy of prospective self-clemency has never been tested in the justice system, and legal scholars are divided about whether the courts would recognize it. But they agree a presidential self-pardon could create a dangerous new precedent for presidents to unilaterally declare they are above the law and to insulate themselves from being held accountable for any crimes they committed in office.</p></div></div><div class=”css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn”><div class=”css-53u6y8″><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>A White House spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>Mr. Trump has considered a range of pre-emptive pardons for family, including his three oldest children — Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump — for Ms. Trump’s husband, the senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, and for close associates like the president’s personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani. The president has expressed concerns to advisers that a Biden Justice Department might investigate all of them.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>Mr. Trump, who has told advisers how much he likes having the power to issue clemency, has for weeks solicited aides and allies for suggestions on whom to pardon. He has also offered pre-emptive pardons to advisers and administration officials. Many were taken aback because they did not believe they were in legal jeopardy and thought that accepting his offer would be seen as an admission of guilt, according to the two people.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>Presidential pardons apply only to federal law and provide no protection against state crimes. They would not apply to charges that could be brought by prosecutors in Manhattan investigating the Trump Organization’s finances.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>The discussions between Mr. Trump and his aides about a self-pardon came before his pressure over the weekend on Georgia officials to help him try to overturn the election results or his incitement of the riots at the Capitol. Trump allies believe that both episodes increased Mr. Trump’s criminal exposure, and more potential problems emerged for the president on Thursday when the Justice Department said it <a class=”css-1g7m0tk” href=”https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/07/us/electoral-vote/the-justice-dept-says-it-wont-rule-out-investigating-trumps-incitement-of-rioters” title>would not rule out</a> pursuing charges against him over his role in inciting Wednesday’s violence.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>“We are looking at all actors, not only the people who went into the building,” said Michael R. Sherwin, the top federal prosecutor in Washington.</p></div></div><div class=”css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn”><div class=”css-53u6y8″><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>As aides urged Mr. Trump to issue a strong condemnation on Wednesday and he rejected that advice, the White House counsel, Pat A. Cipollone, warned Mr. Trump that he could face legal exposure for the riot given that he had urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and “fight” beforehand, according to people briefed on the discussion. The president had appeared to White House aides to be enjoying watching the scenes play out on television.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>Beyond that, the extent of Mr. Trump’s criminal exposure is unclear. The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, outlined 10 instances in which Mr. Trump may have obstructed justice but declined to say whether he broke the law, citing legal and factual constraints of prosecuting a sitting president. Former Justice Department officials and legal experts said that several of the acts should be prosecuted.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>In 2018, federal prosecutors in New York named Mr. Trump as a conspirator in an illegal campaign finance scheme.</p></div></div><div class=”css-79elbk” data-testid=”photoviewer-wrapper”><div class=”css-z3e15g” data-testid=”photoviewer-wrapper-hidden”></div><div data-testid=”photoviewer-children” class=”css-1a48zt4 ehw59r15″><figure class=”css-1ef8w8q e1g7ppur0″ aria-label=”media” role=”group”><div class=”css-1xdhyk6 erfvjey0″><picture><source media=”(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)” srcset=”https://static01.nyt.com/images/2021/01/07/us/politics/07dc-pardon2/merlin_182074734_3abd29fa-d3ce-48e6-9008-d1afab99e341-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=600″><source media=”(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)” srcset=”https://static01.nyt.com/images/2021/01/07/us/politics/07dc-pardon2/merlin_182074734_3abd29fa-d3ce-48e6-9008-d1afab99e341-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1200″><source media=”(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)” srcset=”https://static01.nyt.com/images/2021/01/07/us/politics/07dc-pardon2/merlin_182074734_3abd29fa-d3ce-48e6-9008-d1afab99e341-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1800″><img alt=”A mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, after the president helped incite them.” class=”css-1m50asq” src=”https://static01.nyt.com/images/2021/01/07/us/politics/07dc-pardon2/merlin_182074734_3abd29fa-d3ce-48e6-9008-d1afab99e341-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale” srcset=”https://static01.nyt.com/images/2021/01/07/us/politics/07dc-pardon2/merlin_182074734_3abd29fa-d3ce-48e6-9008-d1afab99e341-articleLarge.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 600w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2021/01/07/us/politics/07dc-pardon2/merlin_182074734_3abd29fa-d3ce-48e6-9008-d1afab99e341-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 1024w, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2021/01/07/us/politics/07dc-pardon2/merlin_182074734_3abd29fa-d3ce-48e6-9008-d1afab99e341-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 2048w” sizes=”((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw” decoding=”async”></picture></div><figcaption class=”css-18crmh6 ewdxa0s0″><span aria-hidden=”true” class=”css-16f3y1r e13ogyst0″>A mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, after the president helped incite them.</span><span class=”css-cnj6d5 e1z0qqy90″><span>Kenny Holston for The New York Times</span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div><div class=”css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn”><div class=”css-53u6y8″><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>Pardons can be broad or narrowly tailored. White-collar defense lawyers said that Mr. Trump would be best served by citing specific crimes if he pardoned himself, but such details could be politically damaging by suggesting that he was acknowledging he had committed those crimes.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>A self-pardon would complicate the already fraught question for the Biden Justice Department about whether to investigate and ultimately prosecute Mr. Trump. Democrats and former Justice Department officials contend that if the president pardons himself and the Justice Department declines to prosecute Mr. Trump, it will send a troubling message to Americans about the rule of law and to future presidents about their ability to flout the law.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>“The Biden Justice Department will not want to acquiesce in a Trump self-pardon, which implies that the president is literally above federal law,” said Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard law professor and former top Justice Department official in the George W. Bush administration.</p></div></div><div class=”css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn”><div class=”css-53u6y8″><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>A self-pardon would align with Mr. Trump’s unprecedented use of the pardon power. The framers of the Constitution gave the president almost total authority to grant clemency for federal crimes, positioning the head of the executive branch as a check on the judicial branch and as someone who could dip into the justice system to show grace and mercy on the downtrodden.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>But Mr. Trump has eschewed the formal Justice Department process set up to ensure pardons are handed out fairly. Instead, he has used his pardon power unlike any other president to help allies, undermine rivals and push his own political agenda. Of the 94 pardons and commutations Mr. Trump has granted, 89 percent were issued to people who had a personal tie to Mr. Trump, helped him politically or whose case resonated with him, according to a tabulation by Mr. Goldsmith.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>The only president to receive a pardon was Richard M. Nixon. A month after Nixon left office, his former vice president, President Gerald R. Ford, pardoned him for all crimes he committed in office. The move was widely criticized at the time as allowing the presidency to hover above the law. Ford supporters later blamed the pardon for his election loss two years later, though ultimately the pardon came to be seen as a move that helped the country move on from Watergate.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>Mr. Trump has maintained throughout his presidency that he has the authority to pardon himself and first discussed the possibility with aides as early as his first year in office. Those discussions began when his campaign’s ties to Russia were being scrutinized and investigators were examining whether he had obstructed justice.</p></div></div><div class=”css-cfo9c3″></div><div class=”css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn”><div class=”css-53u6y8″><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>Legal scholars are less certain about Mr. Trump’s declaration that he has an “absolute right” to pardon himself.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>The Justice Department said in a short August 1974 opinion, just four days before Mr. Nixon resigned, that “it would seem” that presidents cannot pardon themselves “under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case.”</p></div></div><div class=”css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn”><div class=”css-53u6y8″><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>But the president is not bound by those opinions, and there is nothing stopping Mr. Trump from signing a pardon for himself. The questions would be whether the Justice Department under another president would honor the pardon and set aside any potential prosecution of Mr. Trump and, if he were prosecuted, whether the judicial system would ultimately decide whether the pardon insulates Mr. Trump from facing charges.</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>“Only a court can invalidate a self-pardon, and it can only do so if the Biden administration brings a case against Trump,” Mr. Goldsmith said. “A Trump self-pardon would thus make it more likely the Biden team prosecutes Trump for crimes committed in office.”</p><p class=”css-axufdj evys1bk0″>Throughout Mr. Trump’s presidency, he and allies have looked to pardons as a way of helping the president protect himself in criminal investigations. During the Russia investigation, Mr. Trump and his personal lawyer John M. Dowd dangled pardons to former aides. One, his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, flouted a plea deal to work with prosecutors.</p></div></div></section><p><strong><a href=”https://blockads.fivefilters.org”></a></strong> <a href=”https://blockads.fivefilters.org/acceptable.html”>(Why?)</a></p> Thu, 07 Jan 2021 20:03:00 +0000 By Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman
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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/us/politics/trump-self-pardon.html


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm5iY25ld3MuY29tL25ld3MvdXMtbmV3cy90cnVtcC1zdXBwb3J0ZXJzLXdoby1kaWVkLWR1cmluZy1jYXBpdG9sLXJpb3QtbGVmdC1vbmxpbmUtcHJlc2VuY2UtbjEyNTM0MDDSASxodHRwczovL3d3dy5uYmNuZXdzLmNvbS9uZXdzL2FtcC9uY25hMTI1MzQwMA?oc=5
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<div readability=”119.85492577598″><p class>A computer programmer who founded a social media website for supporters of President Donald Trump and an Alabama man who posted online “Load your guns and take to the streets!” were among the four who died when a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol.</p><p class>Another victim was Ashli Babbitt, 35, who was fatally shot by Capitol Police during the Wednesday incursion by rioters who demanded Congress reject the presidential election results. An <a href=”https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/woman-killed-capitol-was-trump-supporter-who-embraced-conspiracy-theories-n1253285″>ardent Trump supporter, </a>Babbitt followed and promoted many well-known radical conservative activists and conspiracy theories.</p><p class>The others, Kevin Greeson, 55, of Athens, Alabama; Benjamin Philips, 50, of Ringtown, Pennsylvania; and Rosanne Boyland, 34, of Kennesaw, Georgias—died of medical emergencies, Washington, D.C., police said Thursday.</p><p class>Greeson had a history of high blood pressure and suffered a heart attack, his family said, and is survived by his wife, Kristi, and children.</p><p class>“Kevin was an advocate of President Trump and attended the event on January 6, 2020 to show his support,” the family said in a statement. “He was not there to participate in violence or rioting, nor did he condone such actions.”</p><p class>Greeson appeared to be active on<a href=”https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/twitter-conservatives-parler-surges-amid-election-misinformation-crackdown-n1247333″> Parler, the “Twitter for conservatives,”</a> where an account with his name and picture lodged threats against Democrat and Republican politicians who Greeson said did not sufficiently support Trump.</p><p class>Responding to a post that floated the “militia option” to keep Trump in office, Greeson wrote, “I’m in.. call me I have guns and ammo!” He interacted with posts from the far-right Proud Boys, telling them to give Antifa “hell.”</p><p class>Greeson also said he hoped House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would get Covid-19 and die, and on Dec. 17 wrote, “Let’s take this f—— Country BACK!! Load your guns and take to the streets!”</p><p class>Kristi Greeson would not confirm whether the account belonged to her husband, but photos he posted on Parler are images of the same person found on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, which were verified by NBC News.</p><p class>Philips, 50, <a href=”https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/washington-protest-trump-capitol-pennsylvania-ben-philips-20210107.html”>died of a stroke</a>, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, but NBC News was unable to verify his cause of death. The computer programmer founded a social media site for Trump supporters, <a href=”http://trumparoo.com”>Trumparoo.com</a>, the Inquirer reported. The site coordinated rides to Washington for people who wanted to attend the protest.</p><p class>“As my children are grieving and processing yesterday’s shocking events, I respectfully request privacy,” Nicole Mun, Philip’s ex-wife, said Thursday in a statement.</p><p class>Mun said she no longer had a relationship with Philip and had nothing further to say. Other family members did not return repeated requests for comment..</p><p class=”endmark”>Boyland also died because of a medical emergency, authorities said, providing no further details First responders performed CPR on her around 5 p.m. Wednesday after she collapsed, reported <a href=”https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/kennesaw/kennesaw-woman-among-deaths-at-us-capitol/85-23f73eda-c2ef-426c-9b0c-5fd3414c5765″>NBC Atlanta affiliate WXIA</a>. Her family did not return phone calls and emails seeking more information.</p></div><div readability=”33″><div class=”article-byline pt3 pb2″ readability=”32″><div class=”article-byline__inner mt2 mt0-m”><span data-test=”article-byline__headshot” class=”article-byline__image article-byline__image article-byline__image–has-image mr4 article-byline__headshot w3-print”><picture class><img src=”https://media4.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2019_29/2936271/190618-ben-kesslen-byline1414_391a109f2159abba473b17c691e1156e.focal-100×100.jpg” alt=”Image: Ben Kesslen”></picture></span><span class=”article-byline__name article-byline__name founders-mono f3 lh-title ls-tight pt1 pt4-m ml9 ml0-m ml0-print”>Ben Kesslen </span><span class=”article-byline__social f2 mt2 mt4-m ml9 ml0-m dn-print” data-test=”article-byline__social”><a href=”https://twitter.com/benkesslen” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer” class=”article-byline__social-link”><span class=”icon icon-twitter”></span></a><a href=”mailto:Ben.Kesslen@nbcuni.com” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer” class=”article-byline__social-link”><span class=”icon icon-email”></span></a></span></div><p class=”article-byline__bio article-byline__bio publico-txt f2 lh-copy mt3 mt0-m ml9-m”>Ben Kesslen is a reporter for NBC News.&nbsp;</p></div><p>Ali Gostanian<!– –> <!– –>contributed.</p></div><p><strong><a href=”https://blockads.fivefilters.org”></a></strong> <a href=”https://blockads.fivefilters.org/acceptable.html”>(Why?)</a></p> Fri, 08 Jan 2021 01:18:00 +0000 en
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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-supporters-who-died-during-capitol-riot-left-online-presence-n1253400


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMihwFodHRwczovL3d3dy51c2F0b2RheS5jb20vc3RvcnkvdGVjaC8yMDIxLzAxLzA3L2ZhY2Vib29rLXRydW1wLWluc3RhZ3JhbS1zb2NpYWwtbWVkaWEtYWNjb3VudHMtYmxvY2staW5kZWZpbml0ZWx5LXp1Y2tlcmJlcmcvNjU4MDIyMTAwMi_SASdodHRwczovL2FtcC51c2F0b2RheS5jb20vYW1wLzY1ODAyMjEwMDI?oc=5
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<story-byline class=”spacer-small column ten-column no-gutter placeholder-white” util-module-path=”elements/story” section=”tech”><a href=”https://www.usatoday.com/staff/4388270002/kelly-tyko/” slot=”bylineInfo” class=”authors”>Kelly Tyko</a>
<span slot=”bylineInfo”>&nbsp;</span>
<span slot=”bylineInfo” class=”credit”>|&nbsp;USA TODAY</span>
<lit-timestamp slot=”timestamp” publishdate=”2021-01-07T16:19:27Z” updatedate=”2021-01-07T23:41:46Z” article-top></lit-timestamp></story-byline><div id=”videoWrap” class=”spacer-large videoWrap”><media-video video-id=”6578054002″ title=”Twitter, Facebook and Instagram locked President Trump’s social medias” poster=”https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/01/07/USAT/7c4b06ee-6a38-42df-9caf-b7cfb176f4a9-VPC_SOCIAL_MEDIAS_LOCK_TRUMPS_ACCOUNTS_DESK_THUMB.jpg” util-module-path=”elements/media” placement=”snow-video-story-priority”><div id=”uwVideoPlaceholder” slot=”placeholder”><img src=”https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/01/07/USAT/7c4b06ee-6a38-42df-9caf-b7cfb176f4a9-VPC_SOCIAL_MEDIAS_LOCK_TRUMPS_ACCOUNTS_DESK_THUMB.jpg”><div class=”vidplaybtn”><img class=”vidplayicon” src=”https://www.gannett-cdn.com/appservices/universal-web/universal/icons/icon-play-alt-white.svg” alt=”play”></div></div><div slot=”videoDetails” id=”videoDetails” class=”videoDetails” readability=”8″><div id=”videoDetailsToggle”><div id=”vdt_show” class=”inline-flex vdt-flex”>Show Caption<svg class=”vdt-svg” view-box=”0 0 24 24″>
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</svg></div></div><div id=”videoDetailsContainer” class=”videoDetailsContainer” hidden readability=”11″><p>Twitter, Facebook and Instagram locked President Trump’s social medias</p><p>The big three social media platforms have locked President Trump’s accounts because his posts violated their policies during riots at the U.S. Capitol.</p><p>USA TODAY</p></div></div></media-video></div><p>After originally <a href=”https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/01/06/twitter-locks-president-trumps-account-after-his-tweets-riots/6574242002/” target=”_blank”>planning to block President Donald Trump from posting to his Facebook and Instagram account for 24 hours</a>, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Thursday that&nbsp;the blocks have&nbsp;been extended “indefinitely.”</p><partner-banner util-module-path=”elements/partner” class=”spacer-large” min-height=”250″ fluid outstream></partner-banner><p>”We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great,” Zuckerberg wrote in a <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10112681480907401″ target=”_blank”>Facebook post Thursday</a>. “Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete.”</p><p>Facebook’s actions came too late, says the&nbsp;Real Oversight Board,&nbsp;a Facebook watchdog organization not affiliated with Facebook.</p><p>”It took a literal insurrection for Facebook to do the right thing,” the group said in a statement sent to USA TODAY and <a href=”https://twitter.com/FBoversight/status/1347222018895327238?s=20″ target=”_blank”>posted on Twitter</a>. “It has now banned Donald Trump – as we called for yesterday – until the inauguration. But it is only because of its failure to take action previously that we are at this point.”</p><partner-banner util-module-path=”elements/partner” fluid bottom lazy class=”spacer-large” min-height=”250″ outstream></partner-banner><partner-inline util-module-path=”elements/partner” class=”spacer-large” placement=”native-article_link” sizes=”[[300, 250], [3, 3]]” fluid outstream></partner-inline><p><span class=”exclude-from-newsgate”><strong>Trump’s social media accounts: </strong><a href=”https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/01/07/trump-facebook-ban-michelle-obama-calls-permanent-bans/6587862002/” target=”_blank”>Michelle Obama calls for Trump to be ‘permanently’ banned as pressure mounts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube</a></span></p><p><span class=”exclude-from-newsgate”><strong>Rioting at U.S. Capitol: </strong><a href=”https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/01/06/trump-riot-mob-facebook-twitter-youtube-violence-condemned/6574841002/” target=”_blank”>Angry mob’s actions lead to widespread condemnation of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube</a></span></p><cta-atoms-container-inline util-module-path=”elements/cta” class=”spacer-large”></cta-atoms-container-inline><p>U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., incoming chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, also said the steps by social media platforms to address Trump’s “misuse” are too late and not enough.</p><partner-inline util-module-path=”elements/partner” placement=”native-article_link” sizes=”[[300, 250], [3, 3]]” fluid outstream></partner-inline><p>“Disinformation and extremism researchers have for years pointed to broader network-based exploitation of these platforms,&nbsp;Warner said in a statement.&nbsp;”As I have continually said, these platforms have served as core organizing infrastructure for violent, far right groups and militia movements for several years now – helping them to recruit, organize, coordinate and in many cases (particularly with respect to YouTube) generate profits from their violent, extremist content.”</p><partner-banner util-module-path=”elements/partner” fluid bottom lazy class=”spacer-large” min-height=”250″ outstream></partner-banner><p><a href=”https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/01/07/trump-facebook-ban-michelle-obama-calls-permanent-bans/6587862002/” target=”_blank”>Former first lady Michelle Obama also called on social media companies to permanently ban</a> Trump on Thursday.</p><media-oembed util-module-path=”elements/media” provider-name=”Gannett” class=”column ten-column no-gutter spacer-large”></media-oembed><h2 class=”presto-h2″>Donald Trump Twitter account locked</h2><p>Facebook blocked Trump after Twitter froze three of his tweets <a href=”https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/06/how-were-pro-trump-rioters-able-breach-capitol-law-enforcement/6568796002/” target=”_blank”>about&nbsp;the riots at the U.S. Capitol </a>and blocked his access.</p><p>On Wednesday, Twitter said in a post on its on its Twitter Safety account that the @realDonaldTrump Twitter account would be locked, that those tweets must be removed and the account would remain frozen for at least 12 hours.</p><p>Twitter also said Wednesday that future violations of the social network’s rules – such as including inciting violence and interfering in elections&nbsp;– could “result in permanent suspension of the @realDonaldTrump account.”</p><partner-banner util-module-path=”elements/partner” fluid bottom lazy class=”spacer-large” min-height=”250″ outstream></partner-banner><p>On Thursday, Twitter confirmed in an email to USA TODAY that the tweets leading to Trump’s locked account have been deleted.</p><h2 class=”presto-h2″>Facebook takes action against Trump accounts</h2><p><a href=”https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/01/06/trump-riot-mob-facebook-twitter-youtube-violence-condemned/6574841002/” target=”_blank”>Facebook followed Twitter with its&nbsp;own more stringent response</a>, after initially removing the president’s video, saying the company assessed a couple of&nbsp;policy violations, “which will result in a 24-hour feature block, meaning he will lose the ability to post on the platform during that time.”</p><media-oembed util-module-path=”elements/media” provider-name class=”column ten-column no-gutter spacer-large”></media-oembed><p>Zuckerberg said Thursday that over the years, Facebook has at times removed Trump’s content or labeled his posts when they violated policies.</p><partner-inline util-module-path=”elements/partner” class=”spacer-large” placement=”native-article_link” sizes=”[[300, 250], [3, 3]]” fluid outstream></partner-inline><p>”We did this because we believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech,” Zuckerberg wrote. “But the current context is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government.”</p><partner-banner util-module-path=”elements/partner” fluid bottom lazy class=”spacer-large” min-height=”250″ outstream></partner-banner><p>Online racial justice organization Color Of Change called Facebook complicit in the “violent insurrection” and said in a statement that the platform must permanently ban Trump.</p><p>“The hatred, division and bigotry that Trump and his administration have inflamed will not immediately dissipate with the upcoming change of power,” the statement said. “Facebook must permanently ban Trump and take action against his enablers and allies who continue to use the platform to incite violence and spread dangerous misinformation.”</p><media-gallery gallery-id=”6560880002″ util-module-path=”elements/media” class=”column ten-column no-gutter spacer-large”></media-gallery><h2 class=”presto-h2″>Trump’s Twitch channel disabled</h2><p>Video game streaming site Twitch on Thursday disabled Trump’s channel ” in light of yesterday’s shocking attack on the Capitol,” the site told USA TODAY in a statement.</p><p>”Given the current extraordinary circumstances and the President’s incendiary rhetoric, we believe this is a necessary step to protect our community and prevent Twitch from being used to incite further violence.”</p><partner-banner util-module-path=”elements/partner” fluid bottom lazy class=”spacer-large” min-height=”250″ outstream></partner-banner><p>The site had previously suspended the president’s official channel for violating its rules against hate speech. That involved the removal of videos from a presidential campaign rally in 2015, when Trump described immigrants crossing the border from Mexico and a 2020 video from a Trump rally in Tulsa in which he described concerns about “a very tough hombre” breaking into homes.</p><h2 class=”presto-h2″>Snapchat locks Trump’s account</h2><p>Snapchat confirmed to USA TODAY that it locked Trump’s account on Wednesday but stopped promoting it in June on its Discover platform, where it curates content. Since June, Trump’s account has only been visible to users who chose to subscribe or search for him.</p><partner-inline util-module-path=”elements/partner” class=”spacer-large” placement=”native-article_link” sizes=”[[300, 250], [3, 3]]” fluid outstream></partner-inline><p>Snap CEO Evan Spiegel outlined the company’s earlier decision in a statement in June.</p><p>“We will not amplify voices who incite racial violence and injustice by giving them free promotion on Discover,” Spiegel said. “Racial violence and injustice have no place in our society and we stand together with all who seek peace, love, equality, and justice in America.”</p><p><em>Contributing: Jessica Guynn, Brett Molina, Mike Snider, USA TODAY</em></p><p><span class=”exclude-from-newsgate”><em>Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter:&nbsp;<a data-track-label=”inline|intext|n/a” href=”https://twitter.com/KellyTyko”>@KellyTyko</a></em></span></p><lit-timestamp class=”column ten-column no-gutter spacer-small” slot=”timestamp” publishdate=”2021-01-07 16:19:27 +0000 UTC” updatedate=”2021-01-07 23:41:46 +0000 UTC”></lit-timestamp><p><strong><a href=”https://blockads.fivefilters.org”></a></strong> <a href=”https://blockads.fivefilters.org/acceptable.html”>(Why?)</a></p> Thu, 07 Jan 2021 23:03:45 +0000 en
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