Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has escalated his long-standing feud with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding his immediate dismissal on charges of perjury. Hawley’s call comes in response to recent revelations from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who alleged that senior Biden administration officials pressured the company to censor COVID-19-related content during the pandemic. This new development contradicts previous testimony given by Mayorkas to Congress, in which he denied any involvement by his department in such actions.
Zuckerberg’s testimony, provided during a House Judiciary Committee investigation, has reignited GOP accusations that the Biden administration engaged in a coordinated effort with Big Tech to suppress free speech. According to Zuckerberg, the pressure from the administration was intense, targeting not only misinformation but also satire and humor related to COVID-19. He expressed regret over Meta’s compliance, stating that the company would resist such government influence in the future.
https://x.com/13NVESTR13/status/1828896259349852489
Hawley seized on these revelations, accusing Mayorkas of lying under oath. “Zuckerberg finally admitted what everybody already knew: The Biden-Harris Administration coerced Big Tech to do its dirty work, censoring free speech about COVID and the 2020 election,” Hawley stated. “We knew Mayorkas was behind this—even if he denied it to Congress. Add perjury to the list of reasons he should be fired.”
Mayorkas had testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee in November 2022, asserting that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not pressure social media companies to take down specific content. In a heated exchange with Hawley, Mayorkas categorically denied any involvement, stating, “That is correct. We are not [pressuring Big Tech].” These statements are now under scrutiny following Zuckerberg's disclosures.
https://x.com/HawleyMO/status/1828600734197125202
The DHS, already criticized for its since-abandoned “Disinformation Governance Board,” is once again in the hot seat. The board had been condemned by Republicans as a potential tool for unconstitutional suppression of free speech. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a branch of DHS, has also been accused of collaborating with tech giants to censor conservative voices.
Despite the mounting pressure, the DHS has declined to comment on the perjury allegations, referring questions to the White House. In a statement, a White House spokesperson defended the administration’s actions during the pandemic, saying, “When confronted with a deadly pandemic, this administration encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety.” The statement emphasized that the government supports tech companies in making “independent choices” about content moderation.
This controversy adds another layer to the ongoing political battles over government influence on social media platforms. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) also weighed in, criticizing Mayorkas for his department’s past actions and the attempt to establish the Disinformation Governance Board. Jordan emphasized the importance of safeguarding First Amendment rights against government overreach.
The push to remove Mayorkas reflects broader Republican efforts to hold the Biden administration accountable for what they see as abuses of power. Whether this will lead to any concrete action against Mayorkas remains uncertain, but the issue is sure to remain a focal point in the GOP's campaign against government censorship.
” … Add perjury to the list of reasons he should be fired.” Fired !!! is that all !!!???