Reps. James Comer, R-Ky., and Greg Steube, R-Fla., denounced the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairwoman’s “overtly partisan” demand that the FBI investigate Parler but not other social media platforms, according to a press release.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., made the request last week in a letter, citing as justification the free speech platform’s alleged attachments to Russia and use by people planning criminal activities.
Maloney did not demand an FBI investigation into Facebook and Twitter, which overflow with violent and pornographic content.
Comer, the ranking Republican on the committee, sent a letter to Maloney, in which he accused her of “casting blame on a single social media company known for its conservative userbase while simply ignoring other social media companies known for sympathizing with liberal causes.”
He wrote that Maloney’s letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray “is additional evidence of the growing alliance between Big Tech and Democrats to muzzle certain viewpoints, opinions, and perspectives.”
He could also have mentioned the growing alliance between the Democrats and the federal government’s law enforcement and spy agencies.
Comer wrote that Parler cannot take sole blame for violence, when a search on other social media platforms “yields identical, disturbing posts, from across the political spectrum, advocating for a wide swathe of positions, demonizing an equally diverse group of people.”
One Facebook user, for example, said someone should “seal…in” members of Congress below the Capitol and “turn gas on.”
Comer wrote that Facebook and Twitter profited from the events of Jan. 6, since “political turmoil drives increased engagement on social media . . . that generates more revenue” the companies.
“Your call for an investigation into Parler is a transparently political ploy taking advantage of the tragedy that occurred on January 6 to shut down speech Democrats dislike,” he wrote. “We request you amend your request for an FBI investigation to include Facebook and Twitter and the roles those companies played to contribute to the January 6 riot.”
