Rep. Matt Gaetz on Friday called for an investigation into why House computers were blocking internet access to The Gateway Pundit, a conservative news website.
On his “Firebrand” podcast, the Fort Walton Beach Republican said he regularly read TGP and called it a “great website.”
“It’s a great source for information, analysis and opinion,” said Gaetz.
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But Gaetz said he discovered the website was blocked by the House IT system when he went to retrieve a clip previously posted there for a segment on his podcast.
“We’re gonna fix that,” Gaetz added. “I don’t know who thought that was an appropriate action. But we’re gonna get to the bottom of it. … We’re not going to have the House censoring our access to conservative news and to conservative analysis.”
Gaetz said he would take the issue to House Speaker Mike Johnson if necessary.
TGP reported that it learned on Thursday from GOP Rep. Paul Gosar’s office said that its website had been blocked on House computers for about two weeks.
TGP added that the block was applied even on lawmakers’ House-issued laptops that they used at home.
The website included a screenshot of an error message that informed those trying to access TGP that it was “blocked according to House policy.”
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TGP reported that it spoke to a House IT staffer who said that error code would pop up for websites deemed “unauthorized” by the House Administration Office.
The website also noted that it got no response from the House Administration Committee about the block, which was not surprising since the committee also had refused to grant its reporter, Jordan Conradson, with press credentials to cover Capitol Hill since an application was submitted in August.
TGP also noted in its report that it is one of the leading conservative websites in the U.S., pulling down more than 2.5 million page views per day and reaching 1 billion page views a year.
“The Gateway Pundit is one of the most prominent grassroots websites and is supportive of President Trump and the MAGA agenda,” it added, noting that it is also the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit over censorship against the Biden administration that is expected to go before the Supreme Court next year.
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