FROM J C

The Missouri v. Biden case might be shaping up to be one of the most important covid cases to date, out of a wide field of developing lawsuits. As a reminder, this is the case where Missouri is suing Biden, Fauci, and a raft of related federal officials for First Amendment violations because they secretly coordinated with social media companies to punish wrongthinking Americans.

Specifically, Missouri alleges that government officials colluded with or coerced social media companies, to suppress disfavored speakers, viewpoints, and content on social media platforms by labeling the content “dis-information,” “mis-information,” and “mal-information.”

I know, I know, that’s hard to believe. How could this happen and so forth. But just wait till you see the evidence.

A couple weeks back, I reported that Louisiana Federal Judge Terry Doughty granted expedited discovery, including depositions of nine federal officials. In his order, the judge methodically went official-by-official, carefully explaining why each one did not qualify for the normal protection that public officials enjoy from having to be deposed in garden-variety cases.

Not in this case.

Immediately afterwards, the administration’s defendants starting filing motions and appeals to prevent their depositions from being taken. Most importantly, they filed a petition for a writ of “mandamus” in the court of appeals, which basically asks the appellate court to stop the judge from allowing depositions of the government witnesses. Because reasons — like, you know, come on, they are very important people, doing very very important things, and simply can’t be bothered to answer silly meaningless questions from grubby non-elites in federal lawsuits.

Or words to that effect.

They also asked the judge for a temporary stay of their depositions, until the appeals court can rule on their mandamus petitions.

But Judge Doughty said, “no.” He denied their motion to stay, entering another carefully-drafted order. The depositions will go forward in the first two weeks of December.

Those depositions are going to be off the chain. How I wish I could just carry someone’s briefcase for them. I would clear my calendar in a HEARTBEAT, work for free, and cover my own travel expenses.

Missouri— if anyone in the solicitor general’s office reads C&C: I have deposition superpowers. No job is too small. Please, pick me!

Anyway, this case is bookmarked at the top of the list in my federal case portal. I will keep you guys briefed.