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.
Muslims Kill 9 Members of Prominent Pastor’s Family in Targeted Attack
Mamdani dodges on ‘political theater’ of empty Netanyahu arrest threat, calls for US action and NYC protests
WATCH: Tlaib tells Mamdani to ‘call me’ for help arresting Netanyahu as Democrats remain divided
Nigeria Unveils First Memorial for Persecuted Christians
Reporter’s Notebook: House’s final sprint puts SAVE America Act and Iran funding in play
‘Is Mickey Mouse Racist?’: GOP’s Brandon Gill Corners Smithsonian Director on Leftist Policies
New Jersey Dem gov’s blame game backfires after tech company pins noncitizen voter registration on state
US soldier believed to be killed in Jordan attack remembered as living ‘life of courage and selflessness’
From NFL Legend, to NFL Owner, to… WWE Superstar? Tom Brady Slaps Controversial YouTuber
Trump administration has lost or abandoned hundreds of lawsuits against anti-ICE protesters, migrants: report
New report uncovers education groups’ DEI push to shape how artificial intelligence is used in classrooms
Hegseth turns tables on Dems as sparks fly during hearing clash: ‘I put this on you’
Mike Lindell proposes six-month amnesty for illegal immigrants if elected Minnesota governor
Trump flexes GOP muscle in Arizona primaries as Dems dodge far-left upset
Rubio says US remains open to Iran talks but warns there ‘will be consequences’
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.
