WASHINGTON, DC (WTAQ-WLUK) – U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson will not be able to upload videos to YouTube for a week.
The media platform has suspended the Wisconsin Republican from uploading videos for seven days and removed a video of a speech about early treatments to COVID-19.
The video YouTube removed is of Johnson voicing displeasure of the Biden and Trump administrations for ignoring and working against research on cheap, generic drugs for early treatment of COVID-19.
Johnson also said hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin — two drugs used in early treatments for COVID-19 — are “incredibly safe.”
“Hydroxychloroquine was actually in the bag of tricks for looking into the pandemic, and Dr. Fauci, for whatever reason, and I think people are starting to question his integrity, justifiably so. But, he just threw out Hydroxychloroquine I guess because it came out of President Trump’s lips.”
The full video also posted by the Milwaukee Press Club has since been removed.
The video violated YouTube’s COVID-19 medical misinformation policies, according to a company spokesperson.
“We removed the video in accordance with our COVID-19 medical misinformation policies, which don’t allow content that encourages people to use hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin to treat or prevent the virus,” the spokesperson said.
Johnson addressed the suspension in a social media post, writing the following:
“YouTube’s arrogant Covid censorship continues. How many lives will be lost as a result? How many lives could have been saved with a free exchange of medical ideas? This suppression of speech should concern every American. @FDRLST”
Johnson also said in a statement, “YouTube’s ongoing Covid censorship proves they have accumulated too much unaccountable power. Big Tech and mainstream media believe they are smarter than medical doctors who have devoted their lives to science and use their skills to save lives. They have decided there is only one medical viewpoint allowed and it is the viewpoint dictated by government agencies.”
Wisconsin State Senator Roger Roth (R-Appleton) agrees with Johnson. The Appleton Republican tells FOX 11 this is just another example of tech companies attacking American’s constitutional rights.
“They hide behind these very vague terms of services the truth of this manner is congress goes, and we protect, we protect these social media companies in large degree from prosecution on first amendment grounds under the terms they weren’t going to be regulators of it. They would allow these to be open spaces to go and share their opinions. But now they want to go and regulate content.”
Outagamie County Executive, Tom Nelson, says this shows Johnson’s handling overall of the last 15 months. Nelson is one of five Democrats who have declared to run for Johnson’s senate seat, which is up in 2022.
“I think this continues a pattern of what we’ve seen from Senator Johnson going back all the way to last year where he’s been spreading misinformation and lies about Covid,” said Nelson. “The rest of us have been taking Covid seriously.”
Johnson has not announced if he will be running for re-election.
Johnson isn’t the only politician to promote hydroxychloroquine. Former President Donald Trump touted the drug as an early treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
