House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney is seeking a “robust” FBI investigation into social media app Parler for its alleged “planning and incitement” pertaining to the violent riot earlier this month.
“I am writing to request that as part of its comprehensive investigation of the January 6 assault on the Capitol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conduct a robust examination of the role that the social media site Parler played in the assault, including as a potential facilitator of planning and incitement related to the violence, as a repository of key evidence posted by users on its site, and as a potential conduit for foreign governments who may be financing civil unrest in the United States,” Maloney wrote in a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Parler, which became a haven for right-wing figures frustrated with Big Tech, was rendered unable to operate in January after Amazon, Google, and Apple barred the platform from their services. Amazon initially booted the website from its cloud service following the Jan. 6 riot, which left five dead. During the riot, thousands of supporters of former President Donald Trump clashed with law enforcement and eventually gained entry to the Capitol.
“We’ve seen a steady increase in this violent content on your website, all of which violates our terms,” Amazon wrote to Parler in a letter. “It’s clear that Parler does not have an effective process to comply with the AWS terms of service.”
Amazon also sent the platform 98 screenshots of unpermitted content “that clearly encourage[s] and incite[s] violence.”
In her letter, Maloney said she is seeking an investigation of Parler’s supposed ties to Russia. The Democrat posited that the Russian wife of the company’s founder, John Matze, and supposed connections to foreign disinformation campaigns are cause for investigation.
Dan Bogino, a conservative political commentator and a top investor in Parler, slammed Maloney for her claims in the letter.
“Carolyn Maloney has now shown America her true colors,” Bogino told the Washington Examiner. “She’s a xenophobe and a bigot who ruthlessly abused her position today to slander a woman, who has absolutely nothing to do with the daily business of Parler, simply because she was born outside of the United States. Sadly, this isn’t surprising. She’s a leftist, and the Left is the party of censorship, totalitarianism, Big Tech cronyism, and xenophobic hysteria campaigns. She’s disgusting.”
A large number of suspected participants in the Capitol riot have been arrested in the aftermath of the unrest. One Texas man, Troy Anthony Smocks, used his Parler account under the name “ColonelTPerez” to post threats to “hunt” down “RINOS, Dems, and Tech Execs” because they’re “cowards” and “Traitors,” prosecutors said. Smocks allegedly pledged to return to Washington, D.C., with weapons.
A visit to Parler.com returns a message from Matze that reads, “Now seems like the right time to remind you all — both lovers and haters — why we started this platform. We believe privacy is paramount and free speech essential, especially on social media. Our aim has always been to provide a nonpartisan public square where individuals can enjoy and exercise their rights to both. We will resolve any challenge before us and plan to welcome all of you back soon. We will not let civil discourse perish!”
The website also includes statements from prominent figures in the conservative community, including Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Fox News’s Sean Hannity, and Bongino, who have posted messages supporting Parler’s battle to allow users back on the site.
