Anti-Trump Krassenstein brothers receive permanent Twitter ban

Twitter on Thursday permanently banned anti-Trump brothers Brian and Ed Krassenstein, stating the brothers had violated the site’s terms of service by “operating multiple fake accounts” and “purchasing account interactions.”

The Trump antagonists had large followings and were considered “resistance” figures to President Trump on the prominent social media platform. Ed Krassenstein had amassed more than 900,000 followers before the ban, while Brian Krassenstein had nearly 700,000 followers.

The ban was first reported in the Daily Beast.

{mosads}“The Twitter Rules apply to everyone,” a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement provided to The Hill. “Operating multiple fake accounts and purchasing account interactions are strictly prohibited. Engaging in these behaviors will result in permanent suspension from the service.”

The Krassensteins wrote in a response on their blog that they never engaged in the actions Twitter says they did in violating the site’s terms of service.

“We NEVER, and we want to make this as clear as day, ever bought or sold ANY Twitter accounts or interactions. We swear on our graves that this is 100% true,” the Krassensteins wrote on Thursday night.

“We have long defended Twitter’s actions of banning and suspending users, and our stance still remains the same. Twitter, as a private company, has every right to ban whoever they choose, including us,” they continued. “We would, however, appreciate that Twitter reviews our suspension and issues a correction in regards to their comments about us buying or selling Twitter accounts or interactions.”

“This is 100% false, and if Twitter believes they have evidence to prove otherwise, we ask and encourage them to release these details to the media,” they add.

The Krassensteins admitted to operating other accounts but claimed they were used to monitor threats against themselves.

Several accounts belonging to political provocateurs have been banned in recent months, including conspiracy theorists Jacob Wohl and Alex Jones and far-right activist Laura Loomer, among others.