Colorado Republican MP Lauren Boebert had her Twitter feed temporarily suspended on Wednesday, only for Twitter to reverse its decision later in the day.
Boebert, who has just started his first term in the House, voted against President Donald Trump’s impeachment in the House on Wednesday. Twitter blocked Boebert’s account after she tweeted about former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who ran against Trump in 2016.
“Hillary must be angry because it took the DNC until 2020 to successfully manipulate an election.”
Hillary must be upset because it took the DNC until 2020 to successfully manipulate an election.
– Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) January 9, 2021
Boebert’s tweet was reinstated with a label that said, “This allegation of electoral fraud is disputed, and this Tweet cannot be answered, retweeted or liked because of the risk of violence.”
In a statement sent to Newsweek on Wednesday, Twitter said it made a mistake in blocking Boebert’s account.
“In this case, our teams have taken incorrect enforcement measures,” said a Twitter spokesman. “The Tweet in question is now labeled according to our Civic Integrity Policy. The Tweet will not need to be removed and the account will not be temporarily blocked.”
Jason Connolly / AFP / Getty
After his account was brought back online, Boebert hinted that Twitter’s decision was part of a major censorship move against conservatives.
“Twitter closed my account at random without any explanation,” Boebert posted on social media on Wednesday. “They do this to thousands of conservatives every day. When the press reported the ban, it was lifted. What about the thousands of Americans who have been banned and never heard from again?”
Twitter randomly closed my account with no explanation.
They do this to thousands of conservatives every day.
When the press reported the ban, it was lifted.
What about the thousands of Americans who have been banned and never heard from again?
– Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) January 13, 2021
Boebert’s tweet on Wednesday appeared to support Trump’s baseless claims that the results of the 2020 election were fraudulent. Trump has repeatedly stated that the large-scale election fraud perpetrated by Democrats has allowed President-elect Joe Biden to appear to win the election. Several lawsuits have been filed in the name of the Trump campaign seeking to overturn the election results. Most of these processes have not been successful.
Trump’s claims that he really won the election may have led to a violent riot in the U.S. Capitol building in January. During a speech at a DC Stop the Steal rally, Trump encouraged thousands of his supporters to walk to the Capitol during Congressional certification of Biden’s victory at the Electoral College. Protesters managed to breach the Capitol doors, forcing a series of lawmakers to hide. Five deaths were attributed to the riot.
On Wednesday, the House voted to approve an impeachment article against Trump, which he claimed was guilty of “inciting violence against the United States government”. Boebert voted against Trump’s impeachment, citing Democrats’ tacit approval of demonstrations against racism and police culture during the summer of 2020.
“Make no mistake here,” said Boebert, “the hypocrisy of the left is on full display.”
The impeachment resolution was passed in the House by a vote of 232-197. Ten GOP members broke through the ranks with their party to vote in favor of Trump’s removal.