The U.S. special counsel investigating Donald Trump acquired a search warrant for the former president’s Twitter account in January, with the company, now known as X, delaying compliance.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed the federal trial judge’s decision to hold Twitter in contempt and impose a $350,000 fine.
The court ruling revealed that Twitter raised concerns related to the First Amendment regarding a nondisclosure order issued for the warrant, as the company aimed to inform Trump about the matter.
“Considering the circumstances, the court acted within its discretion by ultimately holding Twitter in contempt and imposing a $350,000 penalty,” the court ruling stated.
Former President Trump, in a post on his Truth Social media platform, alleged that the Justice Department had “covertly targeted my Twitter account, deliberately avoiding notifying me about this significant infringement on my civil rights.” Prosecutors frequently request judges not to inform subpoena targets in criminal investigations to safeguard their inquiries—an approach the appeals court referenced in its ruling.
A spokesperson for Special Counsel Jack Smith refrained from commenting, and a spokesperson for X did not immediately respond to comment requests.
The court opinion did not disclose the identity of the judge who held Twitter in contempt.
Although Trump’s tweets are publicly accessible, the company holds confidential data related to accounts, including direct messages, draft tweets, location information, and the device type used for tweeting.
The opinion clarified that the warrant was linked to Smith’s inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Trump during his presidency.
Last week, Republican Trump pleaded not guilty to an indictment accusing him of plotting to overturn his loss in the November 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden.
