The Political Insider

After Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe was banned from Twitter on Thursday, many critics on the right argued that the Big Tech company was trying to protect CNN.

This week O’Keefe’s Project Veritas published undercover video which purported to show a CNN employee, Charles Chester, characterizing the network’s coverage as “propaganda” and claiming that it had a mission to “get Trump out.”

On Thursday, O’Keefe was banned from Twitter’s social media platform.

Twitter alleges O’Keefe used ‘fake accounts’

The Project Veritas Twitter account had been banned prior, but O’Keefe was still sharing his group’s reporting on his personal account before it was banned.

Twitter said he was permanently suspended over alleged use of “fake accounts.”

A spokesperson for Twitter told The Hill, “The account you referenced (@JamesOKeefeIII) was permanently suspended for violating the Twitter Rules on platform manipulation and spam.”

“As outlined in our policy on platform manipulation and spam, ‘You can’t mislead others on Twitter by operating fake accounts,’ and ‘you can’t artificially amplify or disrupt conversations through the use of multiple accounts.'” 

O’Keefe has denied Twitter’s assertions and is vowing to sue the social media platform for defamation.

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Conservatives Weren’t Buying Twitter’s Explanation

Many on the right weren’t buying Twitter’s explanation of banning O’Keefe for fake accounts. They had another, unstated explanation.

Donald Trump Jr. blasted Twitter – on Twitter.

“In case you haven’t figured out how it works by now… @CNN spreads propaganda to elect Democrats,” Don Jr. wrote. “And then @Twitter runs interference to protect CNN.”

“They’re all on the same team,” tweeted the former president’s son.

Don Jr. later added, “At this point, both @CNN and @Twitter should have to register with the FEC as Democrat Super PACs.”

Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was mentioned by Chester in the Project Veritas video and is currently embroiled in a controversy over claims of sexual misconduct, also chimed in.

“O’Keefe exposes CNN for lying about me and Donald Trump for propaganda. Then Twitter suspends him,” Gaetz.

Many high profile people began asking questions, wondering if Twitter and CNN had teamed up or coordinated in any way after the O’Keefe expose. (To be sure, there’s no evidence of this.)

The New York Post’s Jon Levine asked, “Have to wonder what threats CNN made to Twitter to achieve this.”

The Daily Caller’s Greg Price observed,  “Twitter banned Carpe Donktum right after his viral parody of CNN with the babies and they banned James O’Keefe after he released videos of a CNN employee that embarrassed the company.”

Journalist and best-selling author Andy Ngo wrote, “After the latest round of hidden camera videos embarrassing to CNN were released, @JamesOKeefeIII has been permanently banned from Twitter. The @Project_Veritas account was also recently banned. This is how big tech works with liberal corporate media to take down challengers.” 

Former CNN contributor Steve Cortes asked “Twitter intervenes to protect CNN?”

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More critiques came on social media throughout the day on Thursday.

According to Fox News, Twitter did not immediately respond to their comment request.