This summer marks 50 years since the U.S. Senate Watergate Committee heard the first hearings about the White House audio system. However, one such audio recording—later known as the “Smoking Gun” tape—documented the initial stages of the Watergate cover-up, where President Richard Nixon was heard formulating a plan with White House Chief of Staff Harry “Bob” Haldeman to block the investigation.

Nixon’s political backing virtually vanished over night once the transcription was released.

It is highly unlikely that this will happen regardless of what Jack Smith, Special Counsel, may have expected from the former president Donald Trump’s @realDonaldTrump Twitter account. Court documents reveal that Smith received a search order earlier this year.

It was reported by Politico.com on Wednesday that Twitter initially refused to comply with the January 17 warrant, and that resulted in a federal judge holding the company—now called X—in contempt, and levying a $350,000 fine. The fine was upheld by a federal appeals court.

Only this week, when a previously-sealed version of the sealed opinion was unsealed with redactions was the truth revealed about the secret battle in court.

What is the smoking gun tweet?

Smith was looking for information on Trump’s Twitter usage before and after the January 6, 2021 uprising. Former president used Twitter until just a few days after insurrections at the U.S. Capitol Building.

Politico.com reported that data from Twitter could have provided information about Trump’s usage of his account and whether anyone else had access, or if there were draft statements not sent.

Charles King, a technology analyst at Pund-IT explained that while the search warrant issued by Special Counsel Jack Smith for records of former President Trump on Twitter is newsworthy it’s also logical. It could prove valuable in several ways.

King continued, “At that time when the warrant was served, Trump’s legal risk at the moment of the arrest was much less apparent than today.” Smith might have worried about Trump’s or someone in his circle’s attempt to remove potentially damaging tweets as these issues became clearer. Elon Musk’s decision to cut Twitter’s management and staff may have also made him worry that Trump’s Twitter account could be deleted or altered.

The Public Record

Trump’s use of Twitter is well known, and the tweets he sent out—as well as messages to others—could be seen as relevant to Smith’s investigation.

King said that Trump’s tweets prior to the Capitol Riot could be considered evidence, or provide an chronological timeline which sheds light on any other evidence that Smith’s team is gathering and witnesses statements. King suggested that “all speculation is of course true, but the news demonstrates Smith’s meticulous methodology.”

Are Tweets And Other Communication Achievable?

All business-related communications made by the president are required to be handed over …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

Author: Aaron