A Republican lawmaker on Wednesday used his talent as an auctioneer to drown out a protester who was interrupting a House hearing with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
Alt-right activist Laura Loomer disrupted the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing by accusing Dorsey of trying to influence the upcoming elections. Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo., said he couldn’t understand her, and started conducting a mock auction to silence her.
[Related: Twitter CEO rejects bias charges at House hearing]
Rep. Billy Long, trained auctioneer, drowns out right-wing protester Laura Loomer with fake auction calls. pic.twitter.com/3exV87ekCA
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 5, 2018
“I yield back,” Long said to laughter when he was done.
Dorsey’s testimony comes as the social media giant tries to tamp down allegations from conservatives who claim they are being discriminated against on the platform. Republicans, including President Trump, have accused Twitter of purposely hiding tweets and accounts of prominent Republicans. Loomer accused Dorsey’s company of trying to turn the 2018 midterm election toward Democrats, to the detriment of Republicans running for their seats this year.
The company has denied it “shadow bans” conservatives.
