Trump's Twitter Account Under Special Counsel Scrutiny: Musk's X Fined For Contempt Of Court

Earlier this year, Special Counsel Jack Smith secured a warrant compelling X, the company once known as Twitter, to surrender data and records tied to Donald Trump's account.

The details were revealed in a court decision that was recently unsealed that's part of an expansive inquiry into Trump's conduct following his 2020 electoral loss and his management of classified information.

Legal Proceedings: The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday confirmed a prior court's judgment, holding the social media firm in contempt and levying a $350,000 fine. Judge Florence Pan emphasized the court had adhered to all necessary protocols, including offering the company a chance to present its case and evade penalties, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Trump's Response: Trump expressed his outrage on his Truth Social platform, accusing "Crooked Joe Biden's DOJ" of a covert assault on his civil liberties. X did not immediately comment on the matter.

Smith, designated by Attorney General Merrick Garland, is probing Trump's attempts to reverse his electoral defeat and his control of classified materials. Trump faces federal charges in both Florida and Washington, D.C., and has entered not guilty pleas. 

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Details Of The Warrant: The warrant required the submission of data and records associated with Trump's Twitter handle. Alongside this, a nondisclosure order was issued, barring X from revealing the warrant's existence, a move that X contested in court on First Amendment grounds.

After billionaire Elon Musk took over the company, he restored Trump's previously banned account. The evolving dynamics between Trump and Musk could influence the political landscape. 

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell backed Smith's stance in February. X's failure to meet the warrant's deadline by three days led to the court's decision. The proposed sanctions, escalating at $50,000 a day, were accepted by Howell, considering Twitter's substantial value and Musk's immense wealth.

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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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