FASCISM
‘Gross Abuse of Power’: Legal Experts Blast Barr DOJ’s Use of Secret Grand Jury to Unmask Anti-Trump Twitter Account

Attorney General Bill Barr‘s Dept. of Justice, in a possibly illegal move, used its full weight and power to try to determine the identity of the person behind a Twitter account parodying a top Trump-supporting congressman, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA).
On November 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice, via a secret grand jury, served Twitter, Inc. with not only a subpoena ordering the social media company to reveal the identity of Twitter user “@NunesAlt,” but also with a gag order requiring the company to not reveal the existence of the subpoena, The Daily Beast reports.
The Wall Street Journal’s Kevin Poulsen shows that Twitter recently tried to quash the subpoena:
This was just unsealed. In the last weeks of the Trump administration, William Barr’s Justice Department tried to use a secret grand jury subpoena to unmask @NunesAlt, a Devin Nunes parody account. https://t.co/ENc4oiUV0f
— kpoulsen (@kpoulsen) May 17, 2021
It’s not that the Twitter account was posting state secrets or classified government intelligence. The account’s bio even reads: “Yes, it’s parody.”
So what does @NunesAlt, aka “Devin Nunes’ Alt-Mom,” tweet?
A random selection:
I’m going to tell my grandkids that this was Pizzagate. https://t.co/Lp4BP04JKt
— Devin Nunes’ Alt-Mom (@NunesAlt) December 28, 2020
— Devin Nunes’ Alt-Mom (@NunesAlt) January 3, 2021
Translation: I betrayed my country in a desperate late-stage ploy to gain power in the twilight of my lackluster political career, and now everyone hates me. https://t.co/yfn3fOe7A0
— Devin Nunes’ Alt-Mom (@NunesAlt) January 12, 2021
Legal experts are expressing outrage.
NBC News and MSNBC Legal Contributor:
All hail @DevinCow and @NunesAlt. Long live @DevinCow and @NunesAlt!
— Katie S. Phang (@KatiePhang) May 17, 2021
Former federal prosecutor Ken White, now a criminal defense, white collar crime, and First Amendment litigation attorney:
This is absolutely outrageous. https://t.co/mVBlpfb4mF
— EveryKneeShallBowHat (@Popehat) May 17, 2021
First Amendment and defamation lawyer, and Free Speech Counsel at TechFreedom, a tech policy think tank:
Let’s be clear about this: the DOJ attempting to secretly unmask a social media account that parodies an elected official is a gross abuse of government power and a severe threat to the First Amendment. https://t.co/V81WKXB5hQ
— Ari Cohn (@AriCohn) May 17, 2021
National security lawyer:
Clearly a great use of time and resources by DOJ https://t.co/u7eS2uYBZn
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) May 17, 2021
Former Federal Prosecutor:
Every day we learn about more corruption in Bill Barr’s DOJ. They actually served a grand jury subpoena on Twitter to unmask the identity of the person behind a Devin Nunes parody account. DOJ not only acted as Trump’s personal law firm, they were also working for Nunes! https://t.co/yIa3z3yYZn
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 17, 2021
Attorney:
I repeat, Bill Barr was HANDS DOWN, the worst, most venal, corrupt and immoral Attorney General America has EVER had.
He should be prosecuted in his own right for abuse of power and obstruction of justice. https://t.co/QvlgU0Pejz
— Pam Keith, Esq. (@PamKeithFL) May 17, 2021
Attorney:
So while extremist groups were openly talking about their plan to use violence to keep Trump in power, the DOJ—filled with stalwart Republicans who have since been picked up by corporate law firms—was ignoring that and instead going after @NunesAlt with a secret subpoena. https://t.co/QKpAEN0f9L pic.twitter.com/TuRUHF6DoH
— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) May 17, 2021
This article has been updated to more accurately represent the description of attorney Ken White.
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |