Co-sponsor of the ‘Discouraging Frivolous Lawsuits Act’ brings lawsuit against people who are mean to him online – Washington Examiner

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., is very mad that people make fun of him on Twitter.

He’s so mad, in fact, that he’s bringing a $250-plus million defamation lawsuit against the social media company and his Twitter antagonists, including accounts titled “Devin Nunes’ Mom” and “Devin Nunes’ Cow.”

Because the ranking member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and co-sponsor of the “Discouraging Frivolous Lawsuits Act” apparently has nothing better to do.

The lawsuit, which seeks $250 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages, according to Fox News, accuses Twitter of “shadow-banning” the congressman and other conservative voices by hiding their tweets. It also accuses Twitter of “ignoring” complaints of abusive behavior.

The social media site is guilty of “knowingly hosting and monetizing content that is clearly abusive, hateful and defamatory – providing both a voice and financial incentive to the defamers – thereby facilitating defamation on its platform,” the congressman alleges.

He also claims Twitter actively worked to undermine and delegitimize his efforts last year to investigate government surveillance abuses when he served as the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The congressman argues further that the influential social media site has a duty to police its users.

In 2018, Nunes “endured an orchestrated defamation campaign of stunning breadth and scope, one that no human being should ever have to bear and suffer in their whole life,” his complaint reads.

Examples of the indignities suffered by the congressman include that someone “hijacked Nunes’ name, falsely impersonated Nunes’ mother, and created and maintained an account on Twitter (@DevinNunesMom) for the sole purpose of attacking, defaming, disparaging and demeaning Nunes.”

The complaint adds, “In her endless barrage of tweets, Devin Nunes’ Mom maliciously attacked every aspect of Nunes’ character, honesty, integrity, ethics and fitness to perform his duties as a United States Congressman.”

“Devin Nunes’ Mom,” it continues, “stated that Nunes had turned out worse than Jacob Wohl; falsely accused Nunes of being a racist, having ‘white supremist friends’ and distributing ‘disturbing inflammatory racial propaganda’; falsely accused Nunes of putting up a ‘Fake News MAGA’ sign outside a Texas Holocaust museum; falsely stated that Nunes would probably join the ‘Proud Boys’, if it weren’t for that unfortunate ‘nomasturbating’ rule’; disparagingly called him a ‘presidential fluffer and swamp rat’; falsely stated that Nunes had brought ‘shame’ to his family; repeatedly accused Nunes of the crime of treason, compared him to Benedict Arnold, and called him a ‘traitor.'”

The fake “mom” account has since been suspended by Twitter.

Another account, “Devin Nunes’ Cow,” called the congressman a “treasonous cowpoke” and an “udder-ly worthless” felon. This account is still active.

Both the “mom” and the “cow” accounts are listed as defendants in the California lawmaker’s lawsuit.

“As part of its agenda to squelch Nunes’ voice, cause him extreme pain and suffering, influence the 2018 Congressional election, and distract, intimidate and interfere with Nunes’ investigation into corruption and Russian involvement in the 2016 Presidential Election, Twitter did absolutely nothing,” the complaint reads.

It also accuses GOP operative Liz Mair of publishing tweets implying the congressman had “colluded with prostitutes and cocaine addicts,” that he “does cocaine,” and that he “was involved in a ‘Russian money laundering front.’”

“The lawsuit alleged defamation, conspiracy and negligence, as well as violations of the state’s prohibition against ‘insulting words’ – effectively fighting words that tend towards ‘violence and breach of the peace,’” Fox explained. “The complaint sought not only damages, but also an injunction compelling Twitter to turn over the identities behind numerous accounts he said harassed and defamed him.”

The congressman’s personal attorneys said elsewhere in a statement that, “Twitter is a machine. It is a modern-day Tammany Hall. Congressman Nunes intends to hold Twitter fully accountable for its abusive behavior and misconduct.”

The lawsuit alleges Twitter has gone well beyond merely hosting content. It claims the social media site actively curates and encourages certain types of posts, including those that make fun of Nunes.

It’s like these people have never heard of the Streisand Effect.

If these Twitter troll accounts are as damaging and hurtful as the congressman alleges, he just gave them a national audience. Thousands and thousands of people who otherwise would have never known about any of this now know (or will soon know) that someone once called Nunes a “treasonous cowpoke” thanks to his lawsuit.

Since announcing his lawsuit, the “Devin Nunes’ Cow” account has gone from 1,000 to 115,000 followers.

That’s called a “self-own.”