Court decision on Trump tweets could affect local politicians

CAMPBELL

A decision by a federal appeals court that it is a constitutional violation for President Donald Trump to block American citizens on Twitter may have implications for area politicians.

For example, some residents of the city of Campbell — including Fourth Ward Councilwoman Juanita Rich, who is running for mayor — have complained that Mayor Nick Phillips violated free speech rights by blocking them from a Campbell Facebook page he formerly operated.

Phillips has previously stated that he did not see blocking users — whom he said were routinely abusive and combative — as a violation of the First Amendment since the page was a private page.

Phillips has since turned over control of the page to a new group of moderators.

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