Trump-appointed Judge blocks Biden from contact with social media companies

President Joe Biden and his administration have been blocked by a federal judge.

The judge's ruling will keep the Biden administration from having any further contact with social media companies during a censorship trial.

Federal Judge Terry A. Doughty issued the temporary injunction on Independence Day, letting the Biden team know it is henceforth not allowed to engage in the sort of censorship activities that allegedly prevailed during the pandemic.

Doughty is an appointee of former President Donald Trump and will be presiding over the case, which has been brought forth by the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana.

The case challenges federal efforts to block so-called misinformation about the pandemic and elections on social media.

"Critics allege that the federal government censored free speech, using private companies to carry out actions that it cannot take under the First Amendment," reports Breitbart. "In so doing, critics say, the government stifled scientific debate, and weaponized social media platforms to help Democrats and hurt Republicans in recent elections."

"The injunction came in response to a lawsuit brought by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, who allege that government officials went too far in their efforts to encourage social media companies to address posts that they worried could contribute to vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic or upend elections," reported the Washington Post. "The Trump-appointed judge’s move could upend years of efforts to enhance coordination between the government and social media companies."

"The injunction was a victory for the state attorneys general, who have accused the Biden administration of enabling a 'sprawling federal 'Censorship Enterprise'' to encourage tech giants to remove politically unfavorable viewpoints and speakers, and for conservatives who’ve accused the government of suppressing their speech," the Post continued. "In their filings, the attorneys general alleged the actions amount to “the most egregious violations of the First Amendment in the history of the United States of America."

The judge made a few exceptions in his order for communications between United States government officials and the social media companies relating to national security threats and other criminal activity.

The case is Missouri v. Biden, and it is being heard in the Western District of Louisiana, No. 3:22-cv-01213-TAD-KDM.

Mark Levin agrees: “Jen Psaki just made the case for the Trump lawsuit.” - @marklevinshow https://t.co/roXFIvLd2F

— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) July 15, 2021