Far-right “citizen journalist” Laura Loomer caused a ruckus over her lack of Twitter verification during Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday.
Twitter revoked Loomer’s blue checkmark signaling verification during a crackdown last November on white supremacists and users who identify as Nazis.
A C-SPAN clip shows Loomer standing up during Dorsey’s hearing to make a plea to President Donald Trump.
“Please help us, Mr. President, before it is too late because Jack Dorsey is trying to influence the election, to sway the election,” she says.
Loomer’s interruption is then interrupted by Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), who according to C-SPAN has experience working the auctioneer podium. Long at first says he “can’t understand” Loomer but then takes on the auctioneer cadence to speak over her.
As a protester interrupts hearing with @Twitter CEO @Jack Dorsey, Rep. Billy Long (@USRepLong @auctnr1), a former auctioneer, takes action.
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 5, 2018
Watch full hearing with here: https://t.co/Gh099bDc9w pic.twitter.com/e4bRzvtBe1
Earlier Wednesday, Loomer approached Dorsey outside of the Capitol and implored him for her Twitter verification to be reinstated only for his car door to be slammed in her face.
.@lauraloomer begs Jack Dorsey for verification back, sobs, has car door shut in face, remains unverified pic.twitter.com/FcebQ05kEW
— Nathan Bernard (@nathanTbernard) September 5, 2018
Congress called Dorsey to testify about conservative users’ claims they had been “shadow banned,” or censored in the search function, by the platform. President Donald Trump’s tweet about “shadow banning” drew attention to the claims.
Loomer also attended the Senate Intelligence Committee’s hearing with Dorsey and Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg on Wednesday morning.