A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has the legal standing to sue the Biden administration over alleged censorship of his content on social-media platforms. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty’s decision is a significant development in the case, which accuses the administration of coercing social-media companies to suppress Kennedy’s viewpoints on COVID-19 and related health policies.
Kennedy and his organization, Children’s Health Defense (CHD), have argued that they were deliberately targeted for their outspoken criticism of vaccines, lockdowns, and other pandemic measures. The lawsuit claims that the government pressured platforms like Facebook and Twitter to silence them by labeling their content as misinformation.
The judge’s ruling points to compelling evidence that the government’s actions directly impacted Kennedy and CHD. For instance, Doughty cited communications where White House officials specifically asked Twitter to remove Kennedy’s posts. The ruling also referenced Facebook’s admission that it suppressed content from CHD despite it not breaching their guidelines.
Judge Doughty’s decision comes as part of a broader legal battle over government-driven censorship. In a related Supreme Court case, Murthy v. Missouri, the court ruled that plaintiffs failed to prove they were directly harmed by the government’s actions. However, Doughty found that Kennedy has demonstrated both past and potential future harm, especially given that his 2024 presidential campaign continues to face censorship.
The judge’s ruling allows Kennedy’s lawsuit to advance, setting the stage for further legal confrontations over the government’s role in policing online speech. Supporters of Kennedy’s cause argue that this case could expose unconstitutional government practices and lead to stronger protections for free speech in the digital age.
