Paul Nehlen, a self-described “pro-white” Republican candidate running for Congress, has accused Twitter of violating federal election law by banning him while he competes for the seat held by House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Mr. Nehlen filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission in response to Twitter banning his account ahead of November’s contest, his campaign announced Sunday, pouncing on President Trump’s recent claim that the social media company has discriminated against Republicans.
“[W]e assert that Twitter banned me from the platform for the purpose of influencing the 2018 mid-term election by making in-kind contributions to my political opponents: Democratic candidates vying for Paul Ryan’s seat as the U.S. Representative from Wisconsin’s First Congressional District,” Mr. Nehlen said in a statement.
Twitter declined to comment when reached by The Washington Times, citing the platform’s policy against discussing individual accounts for privacy and security reasons.
The FEC does not comment on any pending or potential matters before the commission, and a provision of the Federal Election Campaign Act requires that any enforcement action taken by the agency is kept strictly confidential until the matter is resolved, an agency spokesperson told The Times.
Mr. Nehlen, 49, was banned from Twitter in February after he shared an image of Meghan Markle, a biracial actress who recently married into the British royal family, edited to resemble “Cheddar Man,” the fossilized dark-skinned man discovered in the U.K. early last year.
He previously came under fire weeks earlier for tweeting a list of Twitter user he accused of having attacked him, dividing them as “Jews” and “non-Jews,” and has repeatedly been accused of espousing anti-Semitism and white supremacy.
Twitter’s policies prohibiting users from threatening others based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability or serious disease.
In his 22-page FEC filing, Mr. Nehlen accused Twitter of banning him because of his political affiliation, citing examples including recent a Vice News report touted by Mr. Trump that said the company has been “shadow-banning” Republican users.
Twitter “has actively interfered with certain viewpoints, particularly those of conservatives or Republicans,” Mr. Nehlen said. “Twitter’s interference with elections must stop now.”
Mr. Nehlen is running in the Aug. 14 GOP primary against Brad Boivin, Nick Polce, Kevin Adam Steen and Bryan Steil. He previously ran for the same seat in 2016 but lost to Mr. Ryan, who is not seeking re-election.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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