Categories: Politics

Twitter served with warrant for Trump’s account in January, fined $350K for delay: court filing

Special counsel Jack Smith obtained a search warrant for former President Donald Trump’s Twitter account in January, newly released court documents reveal.

A federal judge held Twitter, now known as X, in contempt for delays in compliance with the warrant and fined the company $350,000. The judge’s decision was upheld by a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. last month in a sealed opinion. A redacted version of that opinion was released by the court Wednesday, bringing the previously unreported legal battle into the light. 

According to court documents, Smith’s warrant was served with a nondisclosure order that prohibited Twitter from notifying anyone about the existence of the warrant. Twitter initially did not hand over the requested materials while it challenged the nondisclosure order, but the company was unsuccessful. 

Though Twitter eventually complied with the warrant, Trump’s account, @realdonaldtrump, was not turned over to Smith’s investigation until three days after a court-ordered deadline, the documents state.

HOSUE DEMS UNVEIL RESOLUTION URGING TRUMP TRIAL TO BE ‘BROADCAST TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC’

Special counsel Jack Smith (left) brought charges against former President Donald Trump stemming from his investigation into 2020 election meddling and the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.  (Getty Images)

READ THE COURT DOCUMENTS BELOW. APP USERS: CLICK HERE

In a 34-page opinion, a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Twitter’s contention that the nondisclosure order violated the First Amendment and that the federal judge who issued the warrant — U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell — should have stopped it from being served until the dispute was resolved. 

This is a developing story and will be updated. 

Share

Recent Posts

A massive explosion at an Iranian port linked to missile fuel shipment kills 5, injures over 700

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for April 26 Fox News Flash top headlines…

3 hours ago

Reporter’s Notebook: From John Paul II to Francis, covering two historic papacies

close Video Vatican, world leaders remember Pope Francis Fox News senior foreign affairs correspondent Greg…

6 hours ago

‘No excuse’: Bipartisan fury erupts over New Jersey’s REAL ID backlog

It's virtually illegal to make a left turn in many parts of New Jersey, and bipartisan…

8 hours ago

PHOTO GALLERY: Pope Francis’ Funeral

Image 1 of 14 next People gather as they wait to see the hearse transferring…

10 hours ago

Here’s what happened during Trump’s 14th week in office

President Donald Trump is closing in on the first 100 days of his administration this…

10 hours ago

Experts reveal Trump’s next move could be ‘nail in coffin’ for Biden-era regulations on nicotine

FIRST ON FOX: President Trump’s "nicotine freedom crusade" rolling back Biden-era policies related to nicotine…

10 hours ago