According to The Epoch Times, heavily redacted documents related to the search warrant for information regarding former President Donald Trump’s Twitter account have been released. The documents reveal that federal prosecutors sought Trump’s search history, blocked users, mutes, and drafts of tweets. The search warrant also included a request for information on users who interacted with the former president. More than half of the pages related to the warrant were completely redacted, with the released information shedding light on the extensive details sought by investigators.
The initial search warrant was sent to Twitter (now X) before a court compelled the social media platform to provide information related to Trump’s account. The request included IP addresses used to create and log in to the account, advertising information, and details from the ‘Connect’ or ‘Notifications’ tab, encompassing users who favorited or retweeted Trump’s tweets. The search warrant also covered Trump’s Twitter search history, direct messages, and all tweet-related content between October 2020 and January 2021.
Twitter initially received a nondisclosure order, preventing them from notifying Trump about the government’s search. Despite an appeal by Twitter’s lawyers arguing a violation of the First Amendment and Stored Communications Act, the challenge failed, leading to the release of the heavily redacted documents.
The significance of this development lies in the ongoing legal battles involving Trump and the delicate balance between his First Amendment rights and the safety of those targeted by his comments. The appeals court’s reinstatement of the gag order adds another layer to the complex legal landscape surrounding Trump’s interactions on social media platforms.
