A Republican senator’s personal account has been restored after a brief suspension.
On Wednesday, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote on his personal account, “Thanks to all who assisted in operation [Free] @basedMikeLee.”
“Still no explanation from [Twitter] as to what happened,” he added.
Thanks to all who assisted in operation #Free@basedMikeLee. Still no explanation from @Twitter as to what happened.
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) March 1, 2023
Roughly an hour earlier, Lee tweeted from his Senate account, “My personal Twitter account –@BasedMikeLee – has been suspended. Twitter did not alert me ahead of time, nor have they yet offered an explanation for the suspension. My team and I are seeking answers.”
My personal Twitter account – @BasedMikeLee – has been suspended. Twitter did not alert me ahead of time, nor have they yet offered an explanation for the suspension. My team and I are seeking answers. pic.twitter.com/1llVm4fVu3
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 1, 2023
He told The Hill’s Al Weaver about the suspension, “Yeah, I just noticed that. No idea why. I checked my email and I checked my direct mentioning function on the Twitter app and I haven’t received anything. Weird.”
The suspension led conservatives to demand information from Twitter owner Elon Musk.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) wrote, “Hey [Elon Musk] – you suspended U.S. Senator [Mike Lee]. Why?”
Hey @elonmusk – you suspended U.S. Senator @BasedMikeLee. Why?
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) March 1, 2023
Steve Guest, a communications adviser for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), asked, “[Elon Musk] why is [Mike Lee] suspended?”
.@elonmusk why is @BasedMikeLee suspended? pic.twitter.com/knlurYvKq9
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) March 1, 2023
Earlier this month, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) was suspended after he updated his profile picture and changed it to a hunting picture with his wife.
The picture violated the platform’s sensitive media policy, which states, “You may not post media that is graphic or share violent or adult nudity and sexual behavior within live video or in profile header, List banner images, or Community cover photos. Media depicting excessively gory content, sexual violence and/or assault, bestiality or necrophilia is also not permitted.”
After users tagged Musk in tweets criticizing the move, he wrote, “This is being fixed. Policy against showing blood in profile pic is being amended to ‘clearly showing blood without clicking on the profile pic.’”
“The intent is to avoid people being forced to see gruesome profile pics,” he added.
This is being fixed. Policy against showing blood in profile pic is being amended to “clearly showing blood without clicking on the profile pic”.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 7, 2023
The intent is to avoid people being forced to see gruesome profile pics.
Daines’ account was eventually restored.