Politics

Florida state GOP candidate suspended from Twitter after proposing plan to ‘shoot feds on sight’

by on

More in Politics:

A Republican candidate for the Florida state legislature was suspended from Twitter this week after he posted a controversial Tweet proposing legal violence against federal law enforcement agents.

“Under my plan, all Floridians will have permission to shoot FBI, IRS, ATF and all other feds on sight! Let freedom ring!” Luis Miguel Tweeted on Thursday. The Tweet quickly went viral, making its way around social media platforms.

Earlier this week the House Oversight panel sent a letter to eight social media platforms, urging immediate action against any threats of violence against federal law enforcement in the wake of the FBI’s execution of a search warrant for president Donald Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

Miguel is running for the Florida House in the 20th District. Amid the criticism of his Tweet and his ban from Twitter, Miguel told Florida Politics Twitter’s decision to permanently ban him “doesn’t affect (him) at all.” However, according to Axios, Miguel is planning to appeal the ban.

The Florida Democratic Party released a statement on Friday condemning Miguel’s statements and any other statements like it. “DeSantis-supporting Republicans are now openly calling for violence against law enforcement and the federal government,” a FDP spokesperson. “Luis Miguel models himself on the right-wing extremism that Ron DeSantis has used to elevate himself onto the national stage.”

Twitter told The Hill Miguel’s account is “permanently suspended for violating our hateful conduct policy.” The controversy comes on the heels of several Republican leaders lashing out against federal law enforcement after the Mar-a-Lago search.

“If the FBI can raid the home of a former US President, imagine what 87,000 more IRS agents will do to you,” Tweeted Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) this week. Florida Republican Rick Scott told Floridians not to apply to any new IRS positions this year, because if the GOP retakes the Senate in the midterms they will defund all new IRS agent positions.

Leaders in the intelligence community have spoken out against violent attacks and threats aimed at federal agencies. Attorney General Merrick Garland praised the federal intelligence community and pledged he would “not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked.”

“They protect the American people from violent crime, terrorism and other threats to their safety while safeguarding our civil rights,” Garland said. “They do so at great personal sacrifice and risk to themselves. I am honored to work alongside them.”

ARTICLE: LAURA SPIVAK

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: CLTAMPA.COM

The following two tabs change content below.

Laura Spivak

Laura is a freelance writer out of Maryland and a mom of three. Her background is in political science and international relations, and she has been doing political writing and editing for 17 years. Laura has also written parenting pieces for the Today Show and is currently working on writing a collection of remarkable true stories about normal people. She writes for FBA because unbiased news is vital to unity, and readers deserve the facts free of opinion.

Laura is a freelance writer out of Maryland and a mom of three. Her background is in political science and international relations, and she has been doing political writing and editing for 17 years. Laura has also written parenting pieces for the Today Show and is currently working on writing a collection of remarkable true stories about normal people. She writes for FBA because unbiased news is vital to unity, and readers deserve the facts free of opinion.

Leave a Reply