Democrats Attempt To Force “Twitter Files” Matt Taibbi To Reveal Sources

During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the “Twitter Files,” journalist Matt Taibbi was repeatedly pressed by Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, to reveal his source about when Twitter owner Elon Musk first approached him to participate in the project. Taibbi refused to reveal his source, stating that he is a journalist who does not reveal his sources. The argument grew heated, with other members of the committee joining in, and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, accusing Democrats of pressuring Taibbi to violate his First Amendment rights. The hearing highlights the tension between journalists and politicians seeking to uncover sensitive information.

Taibbi’s refusal to reveal his source comes as no surprise, as journalists are often protective of their sources, particularly in sensitive matters. Rep. Garcia was especially hostile to Taibbi throughout the hearing, even going as far as to call Taibbi a “so-called journalist.”

During the hearing, Taibbi stated that he could not provide the information because it was a question of sourcing, and he is a journalist who does not reveal his sources. Garcia argued that it was a question of chronology, but Taibbi disagreed, stating that it was still a question of sources.

“I can’t give it to you, unfortunately, because this is a question of sourcing, and I’m a journalist. I don’t reveal my sources,” Taibbi said.

“You earlier said that someone had sent you through the internet, some message about whether or not you would be interested in some information,” Garcia said.

“Yes, and I referred to that person as a source,” Taibbi responded.

The exchange continued with Garcia pressing Taibbi on whether Musk was the direct source, but Taibbi refused to confirm this. The argument grew more heated, with other members of the committee joining in. At one point, Ranking Member Stacey Plaskett, D-Virgin Islands, declared that if Taibbi wouldn’t comment on Musk, it must mean that Musk was the source in question.

Earlier in the hearing, Taibbi was asked by Plaskett who gave him access to the emails revealed in the “Twitter Files,” but he refused to say, stating that the attribution for his story is sourced at Twitter. Jordan accused Democrats of pressuring Taibbi to violate his First Amendment rights by demanding that he reveal his sources.

Overall, the hearing highlights the tension between journalists and politicians who seek to uncover sensitive information. While journalists are protective of their sources and often refuse to reveal them, politicians are often under pressure to get to the bottom of important issues, however, that likely is not the case here. As Democrats are on the defense of the “Twitter Files” and Taibbi is the main journalist who got the ball rolling in exposing the government colluding with social media to suppress free speech, Democrats like Rep. Garcia will likely attempt to bully and discredit journalists in an attempt to tear them down.

Alexander J. Williams III