Washington, A lawsuit filed by former US President Donald Trump seeking to reinstate his banned Twitter account was dismissed by a federal judge in California, Khaleej Times reported on Saturday.
According to the judge Trump’s argument that Twitter had violated his right to free speech was a weak argument, since the First Amendment bars government bodies — not private businesses — from interfering with what citizens say, the judge said in his ruling. “Therefore, the amended complaint does not plausibly allege a First Amendment claim against Twitter,” US District Court Judge James Donato said in a ruling dismissing the lawsuit.
“The TOS (terms of service) gave Twitter contractual permission to act as it saw fit with respect to any account or content for any or no reason.” The suit named Twitter and its former chief Jack Dorsey as defendants and sought cash damages as well as an order to have the suspended accounts immediately reinstated.
Twitter permanently suspended Trump’s account two days after his speech at a January 6, 2021 “Stop the Steal” rally inflamed a mob that later laid siege to the Capitol as lawmakers were certifying President Joe Biden’s victory. Trump was booted from Twitter “due to the risk of further incitement of violence” being caused by his tweets, the service said at the time.
