Last Updated on June 21, 2021
Twitter has fully reinstated the account of National File, claiming that a 12 hour lock given to this news outlet earlier today was “in error.”
National File was locked out of their official Twitter account on Monday afternoon, for tweeting out a story covering the tragic death of a 13-year-old boy from Michigan who passed away only three days after receiving his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer. The 12 hour lock-out was down to the tweet having allegedly violated the Twitter rules, specifically regarding their policy on “spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19.
National File contacted Twitter, enquiring as to whether they believe that an article, based on a thread on their own platform, constitutes misinformation, and that if they do disagree with National File’s reporting, which specific points amounted to “misinformation.” National File also inquired as to why Ms. Burages’s tweet thread remains on the platform, while a news report on the story has been removed.
The action taken against National File for reporting on the story drew backlash from many conservatives, including prominent author and commentator Michelle Malkin, who decried Twitter for “covering up post-COVID vax deaths of children.”
WHY DOES TWITTER WANT TO COVER UP POST-COVID VAX DEATHS OF CHILDREN? https://t.co/BPDNbEoZrL
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) June 21, 2021
In an email response, a Twitter spokesperson said that they had taken enforcement action on the National File account “in error,” and as such, the account has fully been restored immediately. However, the tweet in question, which was captioned, “a 13-year-old boy is dead after taking the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, and his aunt, who is very pro-vaccine, is demanding an investigation from the CDC,” still shows up on the account timeline as having been deleted for breaking Twitter rules.
Twitter claimed earlier this month that the suspension of the Informed Consent Action Network for tweeting that they would publish emails from Anthony Fauci was also in “error,” with their account also being restored following a National File inquiry.
National File reported on Monday morning on a viral Twitter thread from the aunt of [the boy]… Preliminary autopsy results indicated that following his vaccination, the boy’s heart had become enlarged and surrounded by fluid, a symptom similar to those documented in other teen boys who have experienced severe and potentially lethal side effects following their COVID vaccination.
“A week ago today my brother’s 13-year-old son had his 2nd covid shot,” Jacob Clynick’s aunt, Tami Burages, posted in a tweet, providing a photo of his vaccination card for proof. “Less than 3 days later he died.” She added, “The initial autopsy results (done Friday) were that his heart was enlarged and there was some fluid surrounding it. He had no known health problems. Was on no medications,” the post continued. Ms. Burages added that she was “pro-vaccine,” and even had her own 14-year-old son vaccinated, but still demanded a CDC investigation…
“Twitter’s censorship here is as repugnant as it is ridiculous,” said Editor-in-Chief Tom Pappert. “National File does not publish medical misinformation. We published a report containing direct quotes from a woman who – using Twitter – expressed concern about the death of her 13-year-old nephew, Jacob Clynick, which occurred after he received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine,” he continued.
Pappert noted that Burages is a “vaccine advocate who has used her Twitter account since 2017,” and that it was “disturbing” that National File was censored while her tweets remain on the platform. “It appears Twitter is attempting to censor news outlets for the crime of reporting on the concerns of a recently bereaved family member,” Pappert said.
“Our hearts and prayers are with Ms. Burages and her family during this difficult time. It is very unfortunate that Twitter would attempt to prevent this family from sharing its truth and its concerns about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine only days after Jacob’s untimely and heartbreaking death,” Pappert concluded in the statement.
