Dems Demand Free Speech App Parler Reveals its Investors and Creditors
'Parler users actively took to the platform to call for violence'
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Chair of the House Oversight Committee, Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney, has demanded Parler COO Jeffrey Wernicko reveals his company's investors and creditors.
In a letter, Maloney wrote:
“In the weeks leading up to the assault on the Capitol on January 6, Parler users actively took to the platform to call for violence and even ‘civil war.'”
“A recent analysis by USA Today shows a strong connection between President Trump’s speech at the January 6 rally and a significant uptick in calls for violence on Parler,” she added.
“Immediately after President Trump exhorted his supporters to ‘show strength’ during his speech, the term ‘civil war’ surged into one of the top five most frequently used terms on Parler. One user wrote, ‘Be men fight back and f— them up. Civil war is upon us.'”
Maloney said, “since the attacks, numerous Parler users have been arrested and charged for their roles, with the Department of Justice citing in several instances the threats that individuals made through Parler in the days leading up to and following the attack.”
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But Maloney has taken no interest in other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, which protesters used to organize the Capitol Hill riots.
“Nothing will stop us….they can try and try and try, but the storm is here, and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours….dark to light!” wrote Ashli Babbitt on Twitter, a day before she was fatally shot.
Additionally, the DOJ has filed several charges against protesters who used Facebook to plan their visit to Washington, DC.
But Maloney has decided to keep her focus on Parler despite the above.
The congresswoman also claimed Parler “allowed Russian disinformation to flourish on its platform prior to the November 2020 election, facilitating Russia’s campaign to sow chaos in the American electorate.”
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“Individuals with ties to the January 6 assault should not — and must not — be allowed to hide behind the veil of anonymity provided by shell companies,” continued Maloney in her letter.
“In addition, according to a recent press report, the ‘Trump Organization negotiated on behalf of then-president Donald Trump to make Parler his primary social network, but it had a condition: an ownership stake in return for joining,'” she added.
“These negotiations reportedly occurred while President Trump was still in office, which experts have warned raise legal concerns regarding anti-bribery laws.”
“Parler reportedly offered President Trump a 40% ownership stake, but the negotiations ‘were ultimately derailed by the events of January 6.'” wrote Maloney.
The congresswoman said that the committee demands the following:
1. A capitalization table showing individuals and entities with direct or indirect ownership interests in Parler and a shareholder register maintained by you or any third-party on your behalf
2. A list of all individuals and entities who have or had any control over Parler
3. A list of Parler’s creditors which hold or held a debt of at least $10,000, including the type of debt funding, amount owed, maturity, and applicable interest rate
4. All agreements, including but not limited to consulting, service, or business agreements, that Parler has with any Russian individual or entity
5. All documents and communications referring or relating to proposed or completed financing, gifts, or investment in Parler directly or indirectly by any Russian individual or entity
6. All documents and communications referring to relating to a proposal to provide President Donald Trump with an ownership stake in Parler
