Questioning Biden’s top staffer for saying they didn’t target Elon Musk
Lawmakers recently questioned a top staffer on President Biden’s 2024 campaign, Robert Flaherty, for stating that Elon Musk did not face any adverse government actions in response to Twitter’s changes in censorship policies. Flaherty, who serves as the deputy campaign manager for Biden’s re-election campaign, faced tough inquiries from Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, during a hearing.
Flaherty claimed that Twitter’s decision to abandon its previous COVID misinformation policies over a year and a half ago was the platform’s own choice, and he was not aware of any negative repercussions against Twitter as a result. Jordan criticized Flaherty’s statement as one of the most absurd things he had ever heard, citing that multiple federal agencies had targeted Musk and Twitter following the policy changes.
During the House Judiciary Committee hearing on the “Weaponization of the Federal Government,” Jordan repeatedly pressed Flaherty to define misinformation and explain the administration’s mandates. Flaherty, in response, defended his initial statement concerning Musk and maintained his position.
Jordan also presented what he referred to as “smoking-gun documents,” alleging that Facebook had censored Americans at the behest of the Biden administration. Flaherty’s involvement with Facebook on social media narratives regarding COVID-19 was brought to light through Facebook files reviewed by Fox in 2023, revealing discussions where Flaherty suggested monitoring conversations expressing vaccine hesitancy.
Flaherty has held various roles within President Biden’s team, serving as the “Biden for President” digital director and later as an assistant to the president and director of digital strategy at the White House. He then returned to work for the president’s re-election campaign in 2023.
The Biden administration’s alleged collaboration with social media platforms in censoring information has led to a case in the Supreme Court, known as Murthy v. Missouri. This case accuses the administration of colluding with Big Tech companies to suppress certain information, with a decision expected in the coming months.
