Troy Smocks, a convicted felon who was sentenced to 14 months in prison for making threats on the now-defunct conservative platform Parler, is suing the platform for a staggering $370 million. Parler had banned Smocks after he called for violence in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021 insurrection.
In his post on January 7, Smocks wrote, “Over the next 24 hours, I would say let’s get our personal affairs in order. Prepare our weapons, and then go get’em. Let’s hunt these cowards down like the Traitors that each of them are. This includes RINOS, Dems, and Tech Execs. We now have the green light.”
Smocks has now filed a lawsuit against Parler, former CEO John Matze, and co-founder Rebekah Mercer, claiming that his ban violated a Texas law that prohibits platforms from banning users based on political beliefs.
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However, the lawsuit does not mention the threats he made on the platform. It is worth noting that the Texas law cited in the complaint includes an exception for speech that incites criminal activity or consists of specific threats of violence.
Matze told Gizmodo that he has not been officially served and was not previously aware of Smocks. “From what I read, I feel like he is having trouble accepting his own life choices and is looking to put the blame on others,” he said.
Lawyer Rob Freund has weighed in on the lawsuit on Twitter. His verdict? Smocks’ lawsuit will likely be dead on arrival.
Information for this story was found via Gizmodo, the Washington Post, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
