Conservative pundit Jesse Kelly’s Twitter ban sparks outrage: ‘New low’

Jesse Kelly, an Iraq War veteran and former GOP congressional candidate, has been banned from Twitter for unspecified reasons, sparking outrage from conservatives.

Wait…what?!?!? pic.twitter.com/k6ovrdJu4O

— Josh Hammer (@josh_hammer) November 25, 2018

Kelly, a former Marine who ran two failed campaigns for Congress in Arizona, in 2010 and 2012, currently hosts a talk radio program in Houston. It is not clear which of his recent tweets prompted the ban.

{mosads}According to Twitter’s “range of enforcement options” page, Kelly should have been provided an explanation from Twitter around what policy he may have violated.

“When we permanently suspend an account, we notify people that they have been suspended for abuse violations, and explain which policy or policies they have violated and which content was in violation,” according to Twitter.

The blowback to the ban was swift, with many conservatives demanding an explanation from Twitter.

Oh Hell No!

If Twitter shut down Jesse Kelly we may have to march on Silicon Valley https://t.co/RcDPZwKn7W

— Jim Hanson (@Uncle_Jimbo) November 25, 2018

.@JesseKellyDC just shared this with me.

He’s permanently banned with no explanation. He broke no rules.

This madness has to stop. pic.twitter.com/zvwgSLg1Ri

— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) November 26, 2018

If this is all @TwitterSupport has told @JesseKellyDC, then @twitter is in violation of it’s own rules. When an account is permanently suspended, Twitter promises to “explain which policy or policies they have violated and which content was in violation.”https://t.co/IrtIF8iKnd pic.twitter.com/MjpxiJ5zBN

— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) November 26, 2018

Jesse Kelly just showed me the final verdict:

twitter has permanently banned him.

His account is gone and will not be restored, according to Twitter support.

No warnings, no appeals

They’ve ghosted him.

— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) November 26, 2018

BREAKING: A Twitter spokesperson told me they were going to look into why Jesse Kelly’s account was suspended.

Their official response: “We have nothing to share on this account.”

— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 26, 2018

I think that people on the Right who are cheering, or snarking with approval, over the banning of Jesse Kelly are engaging in deeply shortsighted behavior, and that the people who got him banned would just as soon put them up against the wall in a heartbeat too.

— Jeff B. (@EsotericCD) November 26, 2018

The ppl who decided to ban Jesse Kelly and the ppl who are cheering his ban are not only unfair, tyrannical, and lame, they are also pitifully humorless.

— Rebeccah Heinrichs (@RLHeinrichs) November 26, 2018

Conservabros who defended tech censorship see the world differently now that Jesse Kelly has been suspended.

— Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) November 25, 2018

What the hell is this? Twitter is a complete joke. Just be honest and admit you’re a corporate, in-kind donation to the Progressive movement and stop pretending you’re a social media “platform.” pic.twitter.com/t667s0DMz7

— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) November 26, 2018

Jesse Kelly is a funny guy and a combat vet Marine, a man very dedicated to his country, his family, and his bit. What Twitter has done marks a new low for the platform.

— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) November 26, 2018

Kelly, 37, predicted back in August that he would eventually be banned from Twitter.

“They just knew [Alex] Jones was the weak member of the herd. They could pick him off as a test run,” wrote Kelly in The Federalist. “Next they’re coming for you.” 

The ban comes four days after far-right activist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer was banned from Twitter after her criticism of Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress.

Twitter declined to comment on Kelly’s ban, citing privacy and security reasons.

Updated at 8:17 a.m.