# Nunes sues Twitter and three twitter accounts **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 19, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388 "2019-03-19T22:29:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/1 "2019-03-19T22:29:56Z")
I know [Devin Nunes’ dumb lawsuit](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/19/us/politics/devin-nunes-twitter-lawsuit.html) has already been mentioned in the stupid GOP idea thread, but I think it deserves it’s own. The account [Devin Nunes’ Cow](https://twitter.com/DevinCow) which is named in the lawsuit had around 1000 followers when the lawsuit hit the media and twitter yesterday. Now it has 167,000 and rising. Talk about Streisand effect! The lawsuit also whines about “shadow-banning”, which I thought was a claim right wing morons gave up year ago or more.:smack: And of course the lawsuit includes the juiciest insults Nunes just couldn’t handle, and solid proof that Nunes and/or his aides don’t understand how to turn off email notifications from Twitter. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/2 "2019-03-19T22:39:17Z")
I am, of course, udderly amoosed. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/3 "2019-03-19T23:01:07Z")
Ha - just looked at the Nunes’ Cow page. Love the “Twitter conspiracy meeting tonight. Don’t tell Devin”! ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/4 "2019-03-19T23:33:42Z")
[More people follow Devin Nunes’ cow account](https://twitter.com/johninmpls/status/1108147007984680960) (@DevinCow) than voted for Devin Nunes in 2018. Screenshots in link - at that time @DevinCow had 180,000 followers, while Nunes received 117,243 votes… ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/5 "2019-03-20T01:29:51Z")
Hey, what’s the problem? Lotsa guys like to fuck their livestock! I know _I_ do! — _Thanx & a tip o’ the hat to **Repo Man** (1982)_ ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/6 "2019-03-20T01:43:44Z")
Note, the real intent is, at best, to provide red meat to the paleo-conservative crowd - “help, help, I’m being oppressed”. Conservatives _love_ to paint themselves as victims… Also, there may be the intent to chill criticism with the threat of ruinous and time-consuming lawsuits. This is another time-honored tactic. In this case, the suit is being brought in Virginia, which recently strengthened its anti-SLAPP laws, allowing winning defendants to collect legal fees. Now, I’m no law-talking guy, but I can’t see this suit going anywhere but straight to dismissal. There’s a long history of precedent allowing parody of public figures, and the bar is _really_ high for defamation. As far as suing Twitter itself, well, if I’m reading things right, carriers have a pretty broad immunity against liability for user-created content. In other words, propaganda and intimidation is the point. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/7 "2019-03-20T01:46:17Z")
I get the intent of it, and I’m the last person to think I understand the conservative mindset, but – _really_? Given the choice between thinking, “Right on, stick it to the libtards,” and “Lord have mercy, Nunes, grow a thicker skin and stop suing someone pretending to be a cow,” the majority of conservatives are gonna pick the former? This comes across as one of the most ill-considered lawsuits in the history of our nation. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/8 "2019-03-20T01:47:43Z")
I wonder how long they can milk this? **Uke** - It is improper to imply that Nunes has sexual relations with his livestock. Unless they are underage. Then he’s fair game! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/9 "2019-03-20T02:02:11Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > This comes across as one of the most ill-considered lawsuits in the history of our nation. It’s at least up there with the $65 million pants. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/10 "2019-03-20T02:20:06Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Hey, what’s the problem? Lotsa guys like to fuck their livestock! I know _I_ do! > > — _Thanx & a tip o’ the hat to **Repo Man** (1982)_ I say it’s time to update [this joke](https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/feuz6/whats_that_joke_that_endsbut_you_fuck_1_sheep/) with Nunes as the butt. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/11 "2019-03-20T02:25:35Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Hey, what’s the problem? Lotsa guys like to fuck their livestock! I know _I_ do! > > — _Thanx & a tip o’ the hat to **Repo Man** (1982)_ > [@The Devil's Rejects](#): > > Charlie Altamont: RHODE ISLAND RED!! I like that, huh! I want a Rhode Island red for me, all right? Two of 'em. > > Darrell: Rhode Island Red…two. (long pause, scratches his nose) Now ya’ll ain’t planning on fuckin’ these chickens are ya? > > Charlie Altamont: (after a long pause) What the fuck are you getting at? Do you fuck chickens? > > Darrell: Well, I _thought_ about fuckin’ some chickens before, eh? If you want to have a good time and you need some pussy, you can (motions with his hands) cut that chicken’s head off, stick yo’ dick in the ass of that chicken, and that damn chicken’ll go crazy on your ass and go “Caaaaah”. … ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/12 "2019-03-20T02:31:51Z")
The lawsuit won’t go anywhere and Nunes knows it, but you have to spend money to defend yourself, which is why Nunes filed the suit. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/13 "2019-03-20T02:55:55Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I say it’s time to update [this joke](https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/feuz6/whats_that_joke_that_endsbut_you_fuck_1_sheep/) with Nunes as the butt. “But do they call me Devin the White House Lickspittle? Noooooo…” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/14 "2019-05-02T16:44:53Z")
Almost two months later, and not a single person has been served: [https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/devin-nunes-lawsuit-mcclatchy-defense](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/devin-nunes-lawsuit-mcclatchy-defense) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/15 "2019-05-02T17:14:45Z")
How many married people, though? What if you’re in a cow-mitted relationship? What if “it’s cow-mplicated” ? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/16 "2020-08-06T17:30:51Z")
Just to update everyone: [Devin Nunes continues to lose these idiotic lawsuits](https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article244764227.html). In the last couple weeks, his complaints against Twitter (the case against the parody accounts, including the cow, was previously dismissed) were dismissed as was one against Esquire magazine and one against Fusion GPS. But, since he’s a complete douchebag, he continues to file amended complaints in these cases, attempting to further force defendants to pay for attorney’s fees. Here’s hoping some of these judges slap Nunes around even more. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/17 "2020-08-06T17:59:08Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Here’s hoping some of these judges slap Nunes around even more. How can what Nunes is doing be considered anything other than a [SLAPP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_lawsuit_against_public_participation)? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/18 "2020-08-07T04:13:48Z")
From Post #6 in March 2019: > [@galen\_ubal](#): > > In this case, the suit is being brought in Virginia, which recently strengthened its anti-SLAPP laws, allowing winning defendants to collect legal fees. So what about all these cases that are getting thrown out? Does Nunes have to pay the defendants’ costs in some or all of them? Who pays for the DevinCow and DevinMom suits? They don’t even know who the real defendants are yet, and last I saw, therefore haven’t even been able to serve anyone with the suits. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/19 "2020-08-07T04:30:19Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > So what about all these cases that are getting thrown out? Does Nunes have to pay the defendants’ costs in some or all of them? > > Who pays for the DevinCow and DevinMom suits? They don’t even know who the real defendants are yet, and last I saw, therefore haven’t even been able to serve anyone with the suits. To be perfectly honest, **Senegoid** , I haven’t the foggiest. Sorry. It’s been a busy year, and I’ve completely lost track of what’s going on with this. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388/20 "2020-08-07T14:04:19Z")
Well the Esquire lawsuit that was dismissed was filed in Iowa, which does not have anti-SLAPP laws that would allow defendants to recover attorney fees. The defendants tried to argue for it, but the judge found the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure outlaws applying California’s anti-Slapp laws to Iowa (which is a point of law where there is a split among jurisdictions). I’ll also point out that Nunes’ attorney, Steven Biss, has had a few complaints and requests for sanctions, as well as judicial admonishments, about his filing of lawsuits. For example, in the Fusion lawsuit (which has been dismissed twice now) and in another, non-Nunes case. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388.md?page=2)