During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, “Twitter Files” journalist Matt Taibbi’s refusal to share his sources did not sit well with lawmakers.
When asked by Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia (D-Texas) if he considers Twitter CEO Elon Musk to be the direct source, Taibbi replied, “You’re trying to get me to say that he is the source. I just can’t answer your question.”
She responded, “If you’re telling me you can’t answer because it’s your source… the only logical conclusion is that he is in fact your source.”
Taibbi told Garcia she is “free to conclude that.”
After suggesting he cannot have it both ways, House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) chimed in, saying, “He can, he’s a journalist.”
Others began attempting to speak over each other.
“He’s not going to reveal his source and the fact that Democrats are pressuring him to do that is such a violation of the First Amendment,” Jordan said.
Watch the video below:
BREAKING: Matt Taibbi refuses to reveal his sources after Democrats try to intimidate him over the Twitter Files.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 9, 2023
Taibbi is an American hero 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/pAfLuWvNyq
Several social media users reacted to the video with Bloomberg’s Ashlee Vance writing, “Well this looks like a productive exercise.”
https://twitter.com/ashleevance/status/1633912713662570497
One user suggested it is “okay when libs do it but not republicans lol.”
https://twitter.com/_jestjosh/status/1633883164212088832
Another wrote, “Democrats harassing another journalist.”
https://twitter.com/SandyForLiberty/status/1633899144392654865
Attorney Jonathan Turley added, “Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger have done an incredible job today despite the personal attacks from Democratic members. We all owe them a debt of gratitude from putting themselves in harm’s way in this age of rage.”
Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger have done an incredible job today despite the personal attacks from Democratic members. We all owe them a debt of gratitude from putting themselves in harm's way in this age of rage.
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 9, 2023
In another exchange with a Democrat, Taibbi fired back at the suggestion that he is a “so-called” journalist.
“Ranking Member Plaskett, I’m not a so-called journalist,” Taibbi said.
He added, “I’ve won the National Magazine Award, the I.F. Stone Award for Independent Journalism, and I’ve written 10 books, including four New York Times bestsellers.”
The Washington Post describes the “Twitter Files” as “internal company communications that have fueled accusations that Twitter’s former leaders suppressed conservative views.”
Taibbi has published roughly 300 emails from the communications, per the Post.