A federal judge has ruled that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. can proceed with his lawsuit against the Biden administration, alleging social media censorship of his Children's Health Defense charity's content on vaccine safety.
Federal Judge Terry Doughty of the U.S. District Court in Louisiana has ruled that environmental activist and anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s lawsuit against the Biden administration can proceed. Kennedy's lawsuit alleges that the government pressured social media giants like Facebook, X, and YouTube to censor content it considered misinformation, including posts from his Children's Health Defense charity questioning the safety of vaccines.
The Children's Health Defense, founded by Kennedy, aims to "end childhood health epidemics by eliminating toxic exposure." The charity has been criticized by some as "anti-vaccine," while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains that vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, are "safe and effective."
Federal Judge Allows Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to Sue Biden Administration Over Vaccine Censorship Claims
Doughty's ruling stems from a similar case brought against the government, Murthy v. Missouri, in which Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana accused the Biden administration of pressuring social media companies to censor certain content. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that the plaintiffs lacked sufficient evidence to prove direct injury and found no direct link to the government in the censorship.
However, in Kennedy's case, Doughty found that there was direct evidence linking the censorship of his charity's content to the government. He noted that the Biden administration had specifically targeted Children's Health Defense and had pressured social media companies to remove its content.
Federal Judge Allows Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to Sue Biden Administration Over Vaccine Censorship Claims
Doughty's ruling is a significant victory for Kennedy and his charity. It allows the lawsuit to proceed to trial, where Kennedy will have the opportunity to prove his claims of government censorship.
Critics of Kennedy's charity have argued that it promotes vaccine hesitancy and endangers public health. However, Kennedy maintains that his organization is simply providing information to the public about vaccine safety and that parents have the right to make informed decisions about their children's health.
Federal Judge Allows Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to Sue Biden Administration Over Vaccine Censorship Claims
The case will now go back to a lower court for further proceedings, including the review of an injunction that had been previously imposed. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for the government's ability to regulate social media content and the debate over vaccine safety.
Doughty's ruling came just days before Kennedy suspended his struggling presidential campaign and endorsed former President Donald Trump.
Federal Judge Allows Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to Sue Biden Administration Over Vaccine Censorship Claims
