Note: This article may contain commentary reflecting the author's opinion.
On Tuesday, Rep. James Comer, who is expected to be the incoming chair of the House Oversight Committee, spoke to Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo about the recent revelations from the “Twitter Files” about the FBI’s influence in the silencing of the Hunter Biden laptop story in October 2020.
When asked about the latest releases of the Twitter files, which outlined the FBI’s cooperation with Twitter to counter “misinformation” and “disinformation” on the social media site, Comer emphasized that the initial discovery proves wrongdoing, but additional investigations will have to be conducted.
“Well, it means a lot more evidence of wrongdoing,” he told Bartiromo. “You know, in the beginning, I thought that there were probably two or three rogue employees who were orchestrating this cover-up of the Hunter Biden laptop story. But now we know the FBI had a division of at least 80 agents.”
“We also know that the FBI paid Twitter over $3 million for their time, all the time they took over the past couple of years in telling them who to suppress, who to ban,” the congressman explained. “You know, it’s just things that the government has no role in. The FBI was never granted the authority to create any type of disinformation task force that policed the social media sites.”
“Now, this we know with Twitter, we’ve heard similar stories from Zuckerberg,” the Kentuckian explained referencing Zuckerberg’s admittance that Facebook deemphasized stories at the request of the FBI. “Who knows what went on at YouTube and Google? This is an agency that’s out of control.”
“And the most frustrating thing for me right now, Maria, is the fact that in this omnibus bill, there’s increased funding for the FBI, plus a $1.75 billion headquarters facility for the FBI,” he explained in reference to the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill currently being considered in the Senate. “We need to halt everything with the FBI, all funding, until they come forward and explain to Congress exactly what they were doing, why they were doing it, and who gave them the authority to do it.”
REP JAMES COMER CALLS FOR DISMANTLING THE FBI, INVESTIGATING FACEBOOK AND GOOGLE
The Fox host then emphasized that the Senate GOP should not be working with Democrats to get the omnibus bill past Congress, particularly when House Republicans are going to gain the majority on January 3rd. Comer then took the opportunity to expand upon what he thinks should be done to reign in the federal law enforcement agency.
“I mean, the one thing that we had the ability to do is. Is stop the spending,” the upcoming oversight chair explained. “Stop the spending and, you know, we need an FBI. We really do. But this FBI is out of control. It’s doing things that Congress never granted the authority to do.”
“In no way, shape, or form should the government be in the business of censoring free speech, whether that be liberal speech or conservative speech. That’s just something the government shouldn’t do,” he emphasized, adding, “but to dedicate a whole task force of at least 80 employees do nothing but communicate with social media sites and telling them what stories to suppress, who to ban. It’s just wrong. It’s a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars. It’s a violation of the Constitution. And to think that as we speak, the Senate sitting here giving them more money for the next 12 months, tying our hands and our ability to get the FBI in front of the committee.”
“You know, one way we could get the FBI in front of the committee really quickly is say, we’re not giving you a penny until you all come down here and explain to us what this task force was,” Comer said about potential bold actions to get answers from the federal agency. “Why you told Twitter to suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story when you knew darn well it was true? And the Senate is counter to everything that we’re trying to do in the House from an oversight standpoint right now, especially with respect to the FBI.”
The “Twitter Files” have uncovered several ways that the federal government has interacted with and influenced social media companies to silence stories and voices that they deem to be “misinformation.” It seems like the “misinformation” they deem inappropriate for the public often comes true and works against Democrats. Rep. Comer should get to the bottom of what is going on in the J. Edgar Hoover building because Americans’ free speech rights are at risk.
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On Tuesday, Rep. James Comer, who is expected to be the incoming chair of the House Oversight Committee, spoke to Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo about the recent revelations from the “Twitter Files” about the FBI’s influence in the silencing of the Hunter Biden laptop story in October 2020.
When asked about the latest releases of the Twitter files, which outlined the FBI’s cooperation with Twitter to counter “misinformation” and “disinformation” on the social media site, Comer emphasized that the initial discovery proves wrongdoing, but additional investigations will have to be conducted.
“Well, it means a lot more evidence of wrongdoing,” he told Bartiromo. “You know, in the beginning, I thought that there were probably two or three rogue employees who were orchestrating this cover-up of the Hunter Biden laptop story. But now we know the FBI had a division of at least 80 agents.”
“We also know that the FBI paid Twitter over $3 million for their time, all the time they took over the past couple of years in telling them who to suppress, who to ban,” the congressman explained. “You know, it’s just things that the government has no role in. The FBI was never granted the authority to create any type of disinformation task force that policed the social media sites.”
“Now, this we know with Twitter, we’ve heard similar stories from Zuckerberg,” the Kentuckian explained referencing Zuckerberg’s admittance that Facebook deemphasized stories at the request of the FBI. “Who knows what went on at YouTube and Google? This is an agency that’s out of control.”
“And the most frustrating thing for me right now, Maria, is the fact that in this omnibus bill, there’s increased funding for the FBI, plus a $1.75 billion headquarters facility for the FBI,” he explained in reference to the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill currently being considered in the Senate. “We need to halt everything with the FBI, all funding, until they come forward and explain to Congress exactly what they were doing, why they were doing it, and who gave them the authority to do it.”
REP JAMES COMER CALLS FOR DISMANTLING THE FBI, INVESTIGATING FACEBOOK AND GOOGLE
The Fox host then emphasized that the Senate GOP should not be working with Democrats to get the omnibus bill past Congress, particularly when House Republicans are going to gain the majority on January 3rd. Comer then took the opportunity to expand upon what he thinks should be done to reign in the federal law enforcement agency.
“I mean, the one thing that we had the ability to do is. Is stop the spending,” the upcoming oversight chair explained. “Stop the spending and, you know, we need an FBI. We really do. But this FBI is out of control. It’s doing things that Congress never granted the authority to do.”
“In no way, shape, or form should the government be in the business of censoring free speech, whether that be liberal speech or conservative speech. That’s just something the government shouldn’t do,” he emphasized, adding, “but to dedicate a whole task force of at least 80 employees do nothing but communicate with social media sites and telling them what stories to suppress, who to ban. It’s just wrong. It’s a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars. It’s a violation of the Constitution. And to think that as we speak, the Senate sitting here giving them more money for the next 12 months, tying our hands and our ability to get the FBI in front of the committee.”
“You know, one way we could get the FBI in front of the committee really quickly is say, we’re not giving you a penny until you all come down here and explain to us what this task force was,” Comer said about potential bold actions to get answers from the federal agency. “Why you told Twitter to suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story when you knew darn well it was true? And the Senate is counter to everything that we’re trying to do in the House from an oversight standpoint right now, especially with respect to the FBI.”
The “Twitter Files” have uncovered several ways that the federal government has interacted with and influenced social media companies to silence stories and voices that they deem to be “misinformation.” It seems like the “misinformation” they deem inappropriate for the public often comes true and works against Democrats. Rep. Comer should get to the bottom of what is going on in the J. Edgar Hoover building because Americans’ free speech rights are at risk.
You Can Follow Sterling on Twitter Here