‘Twitter Files’ reporter REFUSES to reveal his sources in fiery hearing: Republicans hit back at Democrats for calling him a ‘so-called journalist’ and a stooge for Elon Musk in tense exchange
- ‘So-called journalists’ before us now,’ said House Ranking member Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) about the witnesses
- ‘I’m a journalist. I don’t reveal my sources,’ said reporter Matt Taibbi
- ‘The fact that Democrats are pressuring him… that is such a violation of the First Amendment,’ retorted Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio
Democrats on the House subcommittee panel probing the ‘weaponization’ of the federal government,’ and the subsequent release of the ‘Twitter Files’ were accused by Chairman Jim Jordan of bullying two journalists testifying before the committee Thursday.
The House ranking member Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) gave opening statements, including dismissive remarks about Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger, who were given unprecedented access to Twitter’s internal discussions after Elon Musk bought the company in October 2022.
Their investigation helped create the now infamous ‘Twitter Files,’ which alleges a deep connection between Big Tech and government agencies in an attempt to quell conservative voices.
‘The Republicans have brought two of Elon Musk’s public scribes,’ declared Plaskett and alluded that they were selected as stooges for the GOP.
Weaponization of the Federal Government Subcommittee ranking member Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) (C) talks with fellow subcommittee members Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) (L) and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) try to tarnish the journalistic credibility of Matt Taibbi as a witness. ‘Being a Republican witness today certainly casts a cloud over your objectivity,’ she said.
‘This just isn’t a matter of data being given to ‘so-called journalists’ before us now,’ as she pointed to the witnesses.
‘Ranking member Plaskett, I’m not a ‘so-called journalist,’ the veteran Rolling Stone reporter Taibbi retorted, and let it be known that he was the author of ten books, ‘including four New York Times bestsellers.’
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) joined in the Democratic tarnishing of Taibbi’s reporting because he agreed to testify.
‘Being a Republican witness today certainly casts a cloud over your objectivity,’ she said.
Later in the hearing, Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) repeatedly asked Taibbi when Elon Musk first approached him and other journalists to review emails and documents surrounding the 2020 election and the social media giant.
‘I can’t give it to you, unfortunately, because this is a question of sourcing, and I’m a journalist. I don’t reveal my sources,’ Taibbi said.
Garcia pressed on: ‘So you’re not going to tell us when Musk first approached you?’
‘Again, congresswoman, you’re asking a journalist to reveal a source,’ Taibbi said.
‘You can’t have it both ways,’ Garcia said when House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, swatted away any further requests for information.
‘He’s not going to reveal his source and the fact that Democrats are pressuring him to do that is such a violation of the First Amendment.’
Journalist Matt Taibbi wouldn’t reveal any sourcing to the panel with respect to the Twitter Files.
Journalist Michael Shellenberger testifies about the ‘Twitter Files’ before the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government
Twitter is accused of having a cozy relationship with government agencies.
Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio was livid that the Democrats were asking journalists questions about sources