Judge rejects Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s request for restraining order in lawsuit against Google

"A temporary restraining order does not serve the public interest of preventing the spread of illness and medical misinformation," Thompson said.

By Charlotte Hazard

Published: August 24, 2023 4:32pm

A judge rejected 2024 Democrat presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s request for a restraining order against Google and YouTube in a censorship lawsuit filed earlier this year.

U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled that Kennedy did not meet the threshold for a preliminary injunction to be granted grounds of the First Amendment, due to Google and YouTube being private companies.

Earlier this month, Kennedy sought out a temporary restraining order to restore certain videos removed by Google and YouTube on the grounds of COVID-19 medical and vaccine "misinformation."

The videos included a speech at New Hampshire’s Saint Anselm College, an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan and an interview with clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson.

In his request, Kennedy sought to prevent Google and YouTube from using the terms and conditions to remove future videos of himself during his 2024 presidential campaign.

Judge Thompson stated that Kennedy "has not shown that he has been irreparably harmed by Google or YouTube because he does not demonstrate urgency or that his speech will be censored on other social media platforms," according to Fox News.

She added that "a temporary restraining order does not serve the public interest of preventing the spread of illness and medical misinformation."