Sinclair anchor allows Republican senator to push debunked COVID-19 treatments as “potentially life-saving drugs”
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From the June 16, 2021, edition of Sinclair Broadcast Group's The National Desk
JAN JEFFCOAT (ANCHOR): After posting a video on YouTube addressing hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19, Sen. Ron Johnson found himself blocked by the Big Tech platform for seven days. Joining us now to discuss, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson. Sen. Johnson, welcome back to The National Desk.
SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI): Morning, Jan.
JEFFCOAT: So your seven-day suspension almost over. In fact, this Friday your account is set to be reinstated. Are you planning to return to YouTube?
JOHNSON: Well, yeah, but we’re also on Rumble and other different social media platforms. And we have to — I think that’s going to be part of the solution is other free free market alternatives to the tech giants that have amassed way too much power.
JEFFCOAT: Now, YouTube says they removed the video in accordance with their COVID-19 medical misinformation policies, which do not allow content that encourages people to use hydroxychloroquine to treat or prevent the virus. Did YouTube detail how they determine a video promotes misinformation?
JOHNSON: No not at all, it — just that relatively vague statement. And by the way, I've never really promoted one particular early treatment. I've just promoted early treatment in general, certainly pushing and prodding the health care agencies in this country to robustly research and explore the use of cheap, widely available generic drugs. And, you know, it’s hydroxychloroquine, it's a multidrug combination of that with zinc and Vitamin D and Vitamin C and ivermectin.
Again, I'm not a doctor. All I've been trying to do is provide transparency and allow individuals to have access to information, which is what the Big Tech companies are censoring. It really makes no sense. Ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine have been around for decades. They are incredibly safe drugs. My point has always been it ought to be the patients’, the consumers’ ability, their right to try shouldn’t be blocked by government agencies. When you have, for example, off-label prescription rights available to doctors and yet our health agencies and social media and media have blocked access to potentially life-saving drugs.