In a significant legal development, the social media giant Twitter, now known as X, has been fined $350,000 by the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, for its delay in complying with a search warrant related to the federal investigation of former U.S. President Donald Trump's actions during the 2020 election.
Newly unsealed court documents revealed that federal investigators had requested a search warrant for Trump’s Twitter account, a platform he frequently used to voice his opinions and policies. The documents show that Twitter attempted to resist the warrant, an action that ultimately led to the platform being held in civil contempt.
According to the court decision, Twitter did not fully comply with the warrant until three days after the court-ordered deadline. The fine was upheld by the US Court of Appeals, which commented, “Although Twitter ultimately complied with the warrant, the company did not fully produce the requested information until three days after a court-ordered deadline.”
The warrant specifically sought materials related to the @realDonaldTrump social media profile, which was suspended by Twitter and other platforms after the US Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Special counsel Jack Smith has been leading the investigation on behalf of the US Department of Justice, as part of a broader probe into Trump’s actions during the race.
The search warrant was granted on January 17, with a district court citing “probable cause” to search the account for criminal offenses. A nondisclosure order was also requested and granted to prevent Twitter from alerting Trump about the search, which the court found could “seriously jeopardize the ongoing investigation.”
However, serving the warrant proved challenging, with Twitter's legal request website being inoperative at the time investigators attempted to submit it. Upon receipt of the materials on January 19, Twitter objected to the nondisclosure order, claiming it violated its First Amendment right to free speech.
Elon Musk, who had recently acquired Twitter and is known as a “free speech absolutist,” had been critical of Trump's removal from Twitter. He also restored the former president's account after taking over the company. When the district court set a deadline for February 7 to deliver the records, Twitter provided an “incomplete” accounting.
The court warned of “escalating daily fines” for non-compliance, leading to Twitter ultimately producing the requested records but appealing the nondisclosure order. That appeal was denied, with the district court stating that the 180-day order was a necessary means to protect the investigation.
News of the Twitter search warrant drew immediate response from Trump, who took to his platform, Truth Social, to denounce the DOJ’s efforts, accusing President Joe Biden of attempting to derail his campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty to election interference and other related charges.
The case highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between social media platforms and government investigations, particularly in matters of high political significance. The recent unsealing of the court documents brings new insights into the ongoing legal battles surrounding the 2020 presidential election and its aftermath.
