The Republican communications strategist who Rep. Devin Nunes is suing — alongside Twitter, a cow and a mom parody account — penned an op-ed in USA Today on Friday, suggesting that Nunes not only doesn’t understand the Bill of Rights, but also his commitment to it as a literal lawmaker.
“It’s vitally important that the entire nation understands what this lawsuit is really about: A sitting member of the U.S. government, specifically, a congressman, is trying to stifle free speech — mine, yours and every other American’s — by using litigation as a cudgel to bully and intimidate,” Liz Mair wrote, speaking out at length for the first time since Nunes filed the suit last month. She questioned whether Nunes actually defends the Constitution he swore to defend.
“His action in filing this pleading draws into question not just his view of law applicable to this case, but also his belief in freedom of speech and his commitment and adherence to his own oath of office. Individually and collectively, all of these things should be extremely concerning to every American, no matter where they live, whom they vote for and where they fall on the philosophical spectrum,” she continued. “Rep. Nunes’ lawsuit also rightly generates skepticism that he truly understands the United States’ history of broadly and firmly protecting liberties, and the truth about why the Bill of Rights — including the First Amendment — was drawn up and remains the law of the land to this day.”
Nunes filed his lawsuit against Mair, Twitter and the two troll accounts in mid-March, seeking $250 million in damages for defaming him online and, as he claims, planning an orchestrated attack against him. The “defamatory” tweets include memes of Nunes, President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a “human centipede” style relationship, jokes about him growing up on a dairy farm and monikers like “dirty Devin.”
Read the full op-ed here.
