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Man Arrested For Parodying Mayor On Twitter Files Civil Rights Lawsuit

Posted by timothy on from the and-how-will-this-play-out dept.

mpicpp (3454017) writes with an update from Ars Technica to this story: "The Illinois man who made headlines when he was detained for parodying the town's mayor on Twitter sued the Peoria politician and local police, claiming on Thursday that his civil rights were violated. As part of the April raid, the authorities seized the mobile phone and laptop of the 29-year-old prankster, Jonathan Daniel, and reviewed their contents, which he says was in violation of his First Amendment rights. Daniel, the operator of the @peoriamayor handle shut down by Twitter after the city threatened a lawsuit, was initially accused of impersonating a public official in violation of Illinois law. The authorities never lodged charges, however."

5 of 163 comments (clear)

  1. A plague of lawyers seems appropriate by Crashmarik · · Score: 4, Funny

    punishment for officials who abuse their power. Sort of a use your enemies to fight each other strategy

  2. Re:Is this still the Land of the Free ? by JMJimmy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Didn't you know? It's FREE*

    *With purchase of power, results may vary. By reading this you agree to give up all your legal rights.

  3. Re:Shut up and take my money by Noah+Haders · · Score: 5, Funny

    you could mock the mayor on twitter. sounds like he deserves it.

  4. Re:Is this still the Land of the Free ? by CRCulver · · Score: 4, Funny

    Have they been stripped off by the Obama Administration, along with the Privacy of the citizens?

    They must have been, especially since the US had never ever seen any problems with corrupt local politicians before Obama became president!

  5. Re:Left something out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    the original poster didn't want to be arrested.