The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University today received notice that seven individuals represented by the Institute have been unblocked from the @realDonaldTrump Twitter account, in response to a recent federal court ruling that the president’s practice of blocking critics from his Twitter account violates the First Amendment. The government also filed notice that it would appeal the district court’s decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The following statement is attributable to Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight Institute: 

“We’re pleased that the White House unblocked our clients from the president’s Twitter account but disappointed that the government intends to appeal the district court’s thoughtful and well-supported ruling. We look forward to defending the ruling in the Second Circuit.”

The following statement is attributable to Katie Fallow, senior staff attorney at the Knight Institute:

“We are concerned by reports that individuals other than our clients are still blocked from the account. It should go without saying that those individuals have the same rights as our clients. If they have been blocked on the basis of their viewpoints, the White House should unblock them immediately.”

The notice of appeal is available here.

About the Knight Institute

The Knight First Amendment Institute defends the freedoms of speech and the press in the digital age through strategic litigation, research, and public education. Its aim is to promote a system of free expression that is open and inclusive, that broadens and elevates public discourse, and that fosters creativity, accountability, and effective self-government.