A Republican candidate seeking a seat in the Florida Legislature had his Twitter account suspended this week after a tweet about violence against federal agents.
Luis Miguel, who is running in Florida’s House District 20, said on Twitter that under his plan, federal agents could be shot in the eye in the state. He told the website Florida Politics that Twitter had notified him that his account had been permanently suspendedwhich he later confirmed to NBC News on Friday.
A Twitter spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Miguel confirmed to NBC News that his tweet on Thursday read: “Under my plan, all Floridians will be allowed to shoot the FBI, IRS, ATF and all other feds in the eye! Let freedom ring!”
The post comes amid heightened threats to the FBI after agents executed a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate. Last week, a gunman attacked an FBI field office in Cincinnati and was fatally shot by law enforcement.
On Friday, two top congressional Democrats on the House Oversight Committee sent letters to social media companies about “a flood of violent threats on social media” that pose a risk to law enforcement.
“We urge you to take immediate action to address any threats of violence against law enforcement that appear on your company’s platforms,” wrote committee chairwoman Carolyn Maloney of New York and Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, who chairs the security subcommittee. national.
The letters — sent to Meta, Twitter, TikTok, Truth Social, Rumble, Gettr, Telegram and Gab — also sought information on how social media companies are responding to the threats.
Speaking to NBC News, Miguel insisted he was not advocating violence.
“I am in no way advocating any type of vigilante, extrajudicial, illegal or other form of violence against federal officers,” he said.
Miguel argued that his tweet referred to planned legislation that would require federal agencies to have permission from Florida to operate in the state and that people could protect themselves from threats to their lives or property.
He said he learned of Twitter’s suspension Friday morning when he checked his account and that he has filed an appeal with the social media company.
Earlier Friday, Miguel defended the tweet in an interview with Florida Politics, saying what he wrote was justified because the IRS has been “weaponized by dissident forces” — an apparent reference to some Republicans’ misleading characterizations of the tax agency is gathering an armed force. of 80,000 agents to target average Americans.
Miguel also said Instagram deleted a similar post on Friday. By Friday night it appeared the account had been removed.
A representative for Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, said Friday that his Instagram and Facebook accounts had been removed.
Miguel is on the ballot in Tuesday’s election along with state Rep. Bobby Payne, another Republican. They are the only two candidates, according to the Florida Department of State.
