Sen. Rand Paul on Thursday accused YouTube of censoring his speech from the Senate floor last week about the impeachment trial — a speech in which he mentioned a name some believe to be the whistleblower who ignited the investigation into President Trump.
Mr. Paul called it “chilling and disturbing” for the media giant to pull down his video.
He pointed out that while he mentioned names and connections, he never identified anyone as being the whistleblower. He said he doesn’t actually know the whistleblower’s name.
“Now, even protected speech, such as that of a senator on the Senate floor, can be blocked from getting to the American people. This is dangerous and politically biased,” he said.
“Apparently, YouTube has taken it upon itself to decide what questions can even be asked in the public debate, including on the Senate floor,” the Kentucky Republican added.
YouTube defended its move, saying that’s its policy.
“Videos, comments, and other forms of content that mention the leaked whistleblower’s name violate YouTube’s Community Guidelines and will be removed from YouTube,” said Ivy Choi, a spokesperson. “We enforce our policies consistently without regard to political leaning and have removed hundreds of videos and over ten thousand comments that contained the name.”
The spokesperson did not say how YouTube knew the name of the whistleblower.
Graham Platner blasts new allegations as ‘false accusations’: ‘Maine, you have my back’
The Trump Effect: President’s Presence Turns NBA into NFL, At Least for a Night
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Pride flags removed, DEI back under fire, TV host’s Cali criticism
Platner shrugs off mounting controversies as ‘politically motivated’ and ‘false’ at rally
‘See you Monday’: Susie Wiles dismisses ‘Friday fiction’ she is eyeing White House exit
Trump expands TrumpRx prescription drug discount program to more than 800 medications
Sunny Hostin Admits She Hates America, Declares Country a ‘Failed Experiment’
Trump green lights new DNI Pulte to ‘start the process’ on mass intelligence firings
Forget Trump’s Bruised Hand – What Bobby Kennedy’s Hands Did in the ’68 Campaign Is 100x Worse – Yet the Media Adored Him
Virginia gun sales spike ahead of July 1 assault weapons ban signed by Gov. Spanberger
Platner’s Ex-Girlfriend Accuses NYT of Sanitizing Her Abuse Claims After Interview: ‘This Really Was a Set Up’
Former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra advances to California governor general election, AP projects
Paying for Klan Hoods, Cross Burnings, And an Imperial Wizard – The 6 Worst SPLC Sins Alleged in New Indictment
Report: Karmelo Anthony Has Visible Reaction as Intense Body Cam Footage Is Played in Court
Eric Schmitt rips Hirono over denaturalization bill: ‘You’re damn right we’re deporting’ criminals
That has been one of the thornier issues in the debate. No official source has confirmed the name, so organizations such as YouTube are generally operating off of a belief — effectively lending more credence to the notion that the whistleblower is the person whose name appears in the video.
YouTube isn’t the only one to refuse to accommodate Mr. Paul in his determination to use the name.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who presided over the impeachment trial of President Trump in the Senate, refused to read a question Mr. Paul wanted to ask. He apparently thought the question trod too closely to the identity of the whistleblower.
Mr. Paul did get his say later, during time allotted for senators to speak, when he read out the question he’d wanted to ask had he been allowed by the chief justice.
The whistleblower’s complaint last summer launched the impeachment of Mr. Trump.
Articles containing the accusation are part of the Congressional Record, and Mr. Paul’s speech is also still part of that permanent record.
Story cited here.
