Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued for blocking constituents on Twitter
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued for blocking constituents on Twitter
Some plaintiffs believe they were blocked for responding to Paxton’s tweets with comments about his indictment for securities fraud
FILE - This Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks in Washington, at a rally in support of President Donald Trump. In December, Paxton filed legal papers attempting to overturn the results of the presidential election based on unfounded claims of election fraud in four states that supported President Donald Trump in 2016 but elected Joe Biden president in 2020. The Republican attorneys general for 17 other states made legal filings supporting his effort, which was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)(Jacquelyn Martin)
Texans sue AG Ken Paxton for blocking them on Twitter
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been sued by nine Texans over blocking them on Twitter. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
April 9 (UPI) A group of Texans have filed a lawsuit against the state s attorney general, Ken Paxton, accusing him of violating their First Amendment rights by blocking them on Twitter.
Filed Thursday on behalf of nine Texans by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the lawsuit accuses Paxton of unconstitutionally blocking the plaintiffs who criticized him on the social media platform.
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Two nonprofit organizations sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after plaintiffs said he blocked a handful of Twitter users who criticized his policies.
The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas filed the lawsuit Thursday in federal court. They are representing nine individuals who lost the ability to view and interact with Paxton s Twitter account, @KenPaxtonTX, following rebukes toward him.
Paxton s behavior was unconstitutional, attorneys for the organizations said, and they are seeking injunctive relief to unblock the users in question. Defendant Texas Attorney General Warren Kenneth Paxton, Jr., ( Attorney General Paxton or Defendant ) uses the @KenPaxtonTX Twitter account for official purposes including to share information with constituents and solicit their views about government policy but he has blocked many people from the account because they criticized him or his polici
9 Texans sue state AG Paxton for blocking users on Twitter
Associated Press 1 day ago
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Nine Texans have sued state Attorney General Ken Paxton, claiming he blocked them on Twitter for criticizing him or his policies in comments responding to his tweets.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in Austin, asks a judge to declare Paxton s action unconstitutional and require him to unblock the plaintiffs and anyone else he has blocked because of their viewpoints.
The suit is the latest legal challenge to public officials who block constituents on social media, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush seriously considering run for attorney general, lays out case against Ken Paxton Patrick Svitek
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THE TEXAS TRIBUNE – Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush said Thursday he is seriously considering running for attorney general in 2022 and detailed how he would challenge the incumbent, embattled fellow Republican Ken Paxton. There have been some serious allegations levied against the current attorney general, Bush said in an interview with Dallas radio host Mark Davis. Personally I think that the top law enforcement official in Texas needs to be above reproach.
Bush, the grandson of former President George H.W. Bush and nephew for President George W. Bush, went on to say a Paxton challenge would not be centered on conservative credentials but how the incumbent has run his office. I think character matters and integrity matters, Bush said.