FBI Places Key Censorship Agent Elvis Chan on Terminal Leave Amid Lawsuit

FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Elvis Chan, who played a central role as the bureau's liaison with social media companies before the 2020 presidential election, has reportedly been placed on 'terminal leave' and has not accessed agency devices for over a month. Chan was instrumental in coordinating with platforms like Twitter and Facebook as part of efforts to identify and flag content the FBI considered misinformation, particularly regarding the Hunter Biden laptop story. Congressional scrutiny of Chan's actions intensified after the release of the 'Twitter Files,' which revealed the FBI's extensive meetings with social media companies leading up to the election. The House Judiciary Committee previously filed a lawsuit accusing Chan of obstructing its investigation by failing to comply with a deposition subpoena, labeling him a 'pivotal figure' in alleged government censorship. Chan has denied internal knowledge of suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story during court testimony, but critics argue his involvement shaped content moderation decisions. This development comes amid broader legal findings that federal agencies, including the FBI, likely violated First Amendment rights by pressuring social media platforms to censor content.