A federal judge has blocked an FTC investigation into Media Matters, asserting that it violates the First Amendment and appears retaliatory. The FTC began an investigation following Media Matters’ research that linked high-profile ads with antisemitic content after Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter. The ruling asserts that the FTC's actions should alarm Americans regarding governmental retaliation against organizations engaging in protected public debate. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan criticized the case as politically motivated, suggesting the scope of the investigation was expected due to FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson’s previous ties to political leaders.
Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan stated that the case presents a straightforward First Amendment violation and described the FTC's demands as a retaliatory act that should alarm all Americans.
The FTC's investigation into Media Matters was initiated following its research reporting that high-profile ads appeared next to antisemitic posts, which surfaced after Musk's acquisition of Twitter.
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