A federal judge ruled this week that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s lawsuit against the Biden administration can move forward, marking a significant step in his fight against what he describes as government-driven censorship. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of the Western District of Louisiana determined that Kennedy has sufficient grounds to pursue his claims that the Biden administration pressured social-media platforms to suppress content posted by Kennedy and his organization, Children’s Health Defense (CHD).
Kennedy and CHD argue that they were unfairly targeted for their criticism of COVID-19 policies, including vaccine mandates and lockdowns. The lawsuit claims that under government pressure, social-media companies censored their content, leading to accounts being banned or severely limited in reach.
Judge Doughty’s decision relies on evidence that suggests government officials actively sought to suppress Kennedy’s viewpoints. The judge noted that Kennedy was part of the so-called “Disinformation Dozen,” a group identified by the government as spreading alleged misinformation about COVID-19. He pointed out that social-media platforms admitted to restricting Kennedy’s content even though it didn’t violate their policies.
The ruling follows earlier legal battles over government-led censorship. In a related case, Murthy v. Missouri, the Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiffs did not have standing to challenge similar censorship claims. However, Doughty found that Kennedy’s situation meets the requirements for standing due to ongoing censorship, which he argues could continue to harm Kennedy’s presidential campaign.
The decision has been met with praise from free speech advocates who view it as a win against government overreach. Kennedy’s lawsuit could now lead to further scrutiny of the administration’s role in pressuring social-media companies to silence dissenting voices.
