Supreme Court upholds ruling on access to Trump’s Twitter data for Jan. 6 investigation
The justices confirmed a lower court’s decision permitting federal officials to access Trump’s Twitter information without his awareness.
WASHINGTON – On Monday, the Supreme Court decided to maintain a ruling that allowed prosecutors to gather data from former President Donald Trump’s Twitter account without his knowledge during the investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
The social media platform Twitter, now rebranded as X, contended that it should not have been prohibited from revealing the search warrant and that Trump should have been given an opportunity to contest it.
While Special Counsel Jack Smith has already obtained the requested information, Twitter sought the Court’s input to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The company noted it faces thousands of data requests each year that it cannot disclose, which may impact legal, journalistic, and medical confidentiality.
“The potential repercussions are significant,” X’s legal team informed the Supreme Court, which ultimately dismissed the appeal.
Smith argued that previous courts rightly determined that informing Trump about the records request might have endangered the investigation by giving him the chance to “destroy evidence, alter behaviors, or inform associates.”
Smith also mentioned that Trump never claimed any executive privilege over the 32 direct messages connected to his Twitter account, which prosecutors obtained.
Smith stated that the “underlying issue is irrelevant and no executive-privilege concern actually arose in this case.”
Twitter provided Trump’s Twitter data in February 2023 and incurred a $350,000 fine for failing to meet a court-imposed deadline.
Concern over friendly ties to the ex-president
“Is it due to the CEO wanting to establish a good relationship with the former president, which is why you are appearing here?” U.S. District Court Chief Judge Beryl Howell inquired.
Smith aimed to acquire information regarding Trump’s Twitter activity leading up to and during the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Trump’s account was suspended shortly after the attack by the Capitol, during the leadership of CEO Jack Dorsey. Later, after Elon Musk acquired the company, Trump’s account was reinstated.
In July, Musk publicly endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
