The Democratic Party, according to Jim Jordan, has been harassing a reporter to violate his First Amendment rights.
On Thursday, during an emotional House Judiciary Committee hearing on the “Twitter Files,” Democratic Representative Sylvia Garcia of Texas was accused of badgering writer Matt Taibbi into divulging a source.
At the hearing, Taibbi was questioned about the sourcing of his articles on internal Twitter discussions and allegations of government censorship, both of which are touchy subjects. Garcia questioned Taibbi on when he was initially invited by Twitter CEO Elon Musk to participate in the “Twitter Files” initiative, which has resulted in the exposure of previously private internal talks and the subsequent disclosure of a wide range of problems.
Garcia said she just wanted a date, and Taibbi started to explain he couldn’t disclose that information.
“Because I’m a journalist and you’re asking about where the information came from, I can’t disclose it to you. No one will ever know where I get my information because “Says Taibbi.
Garcia insisted that chronology, not citation, was the most important factor, but he disagreed.
“No, that’s an issue of sources,” Taibbi countered.
The Texan Democrat persisted in his efforts to get the topic discussed.
Garcia questioned whether or not Garcia was interested in the material that had been supplied to him over the internet because he had previously stated that someone had sent him such a message.
Sure, and I cited that individual as a source,” Taibbi said.
That’s when Garcia pressed, “So you’re not going to tell us when Musk first approached you?”
You’re asking a journalist to expose a source again, Congresswoman,” Taibbi added.
Taibbi was not amused when Garcia questioned if he thought Musk was the direct source.
You’re trying to convince me to declare he’s the source now, and I can’t,” Taibbi added.
After stating that Musk’s status as a source is the “sole reasonable conclusion,” Garcia was told by Taibbi that she is “free to conclude” anything.
Garcia added, “You can’t have it both ways,” when House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, stepped in.
Jordan’s comment, “He can, he’s a journalist,” prompted some petty fighting among the group’s other participants.
Ranking Member Stacey Plaskett, D-Virgin Islands, who had a similar interaction with Taibbi previously, said that since Taibbi wouldn’t comment on Musk, it must indicate the Twitter owner was the source of the issue, leading to many members speaking over each other in anger.
And the fact that Democrats are forcing him to do so is such a violation of the First Amendment, Jordan snarled, and the source wouldn’t be revealed.
Taibbi was questioned by Plaskett earlier in the hearing who provided him access to the emails disclosed in the “Twitter Files,” but he refused to answer.
“My story’s sources may be found on Twitter,” he explained.
In response to Jordan’s inquiry, Plaskett disputed that she was attempting to coerce journalists into disclosing their sources.