The Twitter Files reporter refuses to reveal his sources in fiery hearing

Democrats on the House subcommittee investigating the federal government’s “arming” and subsequent release of the “Twitter files” have been accused by Chairman Jim Jordan of harassing two journalists who testified before the committee on Thursday.

House Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) made opening statements, including derogatory remarks, about Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger, who were given unprecedented access to Twitter’s internal discussions following Elon Musk’s purchase of the company in October 2022 .

Her investigations helped create the now infamous “Twitter Files,” which claim a deep connection between big tech and government agencies to quash conservative voices.

“The Republicans brought in two of Elon Musk’s public scribes,” Plaskett explained, alluding to their being chosen as henchmen for the GOP.

Arming federal government subcommittee ranking member Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) (C) speaks with fellow subcommittee members Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) (L) and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY)

MP Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) tries to cloud Matt Taibbi’s journalistic credibility as a witness. “Being a Republican witness today certainly casts a shadow over your objectivity,” she said.

“This is simply not about data being passed on to ‘so-called journalists’ before us,” as she pointed out to the witnesses.

“Senior Member Plaskett, I am not a ‘so-called journalist,'” said veteran Rolling Stone reporter Taibbi, revealing that he is the author of 10 books, “including four New York Times bestsellers.”

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) joined in the Democratic defilement of Taibbi’s reporting because he agreed to testify.

“Being a Republican witness today certainly casts a shadow over your objectivity,” she said.

Later in the hearing, Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) repeatedly questioned Taibbi when Elon Musk first reached out to him and other journalists about emails and documents surrounding the 2020 election and the social media giant check over.

“Unfortunately I can’t give it to you because it’s a question of procurement and I’m a journalist. I don’t reveal my sources,” Taibbi said.

Garcia pressed further, “So you’re not going to tell us when Musk first approached you?”

“Again, Congressmen, you are asking a journalist to disclose a source,” Taibbi said.

“You can’t have it both ways,” Garcia said, as House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, turned down all further requests for information.

“He will not reveal his source, and the fact that Democrats are urging him to do so is such a violation of the First Amendment.”

Journalist Matt Taibbi declined to provide the panel with sources for the Twitter files.

Journalist Michael Shellenberger testifies on the “Twitter files” before the House Select Subcommittee on Arming the Federal Government

Twitter is accused of having a cozy relationship with government agencies.

R-Ohio Chairman Jim Jordan was furious at Democrats asking journalists questions about sources

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk