Washington, D.C. — Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) issued the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order attacking social media platforms:

“Our country is in the midst of the most serious public health and economic crisis of our lifetimes. With this Executive Order aimed at internet companies who are finally trying to address misinformation on their platforms, the President will waste taxpayer dollars and agency resources that could be used to help American families at this critical time.  This is senseless and immoral.

“Instead of directing Federal agencies to address the scourge of price gouging of critical goods, connect more families to the Internet by bridging the digital divide, or otherwise promote economic security for the tens of millions of unemployed American families, the President is sending the FTC, FCC, DOJ and other agencies on a fool’s errand to placate his ego.

“The President does not have the authority to unilaterally rewrite laws passed by Congress; to punish companies for policing misinformation; or to curtail First Amendment protections for speech online. The Executive Order is facially unconstitutional, and the President cannot simply evade administrative law by having an agency within the Executive Branch lobby an independent agency to do his bidding.

“If anything, online platforms should be doing more to protect the integrity of our elections and combat propaganda, not succumbing to the whims of a President who is failing in the polls and will do anything to maintain his power.”