Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, certainly one of Iowa’s most distinguished Twitter customers, mentioned Wednesday he is hopeful the social media large’s buy by billionaire Elon Musk will result in extra “free speech” on the platform.

Grassley mentioned he likes what Musk has mentioned in regards to the significance of Twitter’s place in selling free speech and said he hopes the platform will become “a free speech haven.”

“Simply having extra free speech usually, however notably political free speech, enhances our democracy,” he mentioned on a Wednesday convention name with Iowa reporters.

However no matter adjustments could come to Twitter, do not anticipate fewer tweets about Dairy Queen or the Historical past Channel. The 88-year-old senator, who joined Twitter at age 74, mentioned he does not see the acquisition as having a lot impact on how he personally makes use of the platform. 

Twitter confirmed Monday the Tesla and SpaceX CEO is buying the social media firm for $44 billion. Musk has known as himself a “free speech absolutist” and has criticized Twitter’s content material moderation insurance policies up to now.

Extra:May an Elon Musk-owned Twitter thrive with a subscription-only mannequin?

Grassley is famously energetic on his Twitter account, interspersing his ideas on politics and updates from his 99-county excursions with colourful, abbreviation and typo-ridden musings on subjects just like the Historical past Channel, Dairy Queen, College of Northern Iowa sports activities and different life occasions — like the saga of a dead pet pigeon he present in his entrance yard in September 2020.

As of midday Wednesday, Grassley had 702,000 followers.

Twitter’s practices have come below fireplace from Grassley and different conservatives, who’ve accused the platform of being too aggressive in policing speech amongst conservatives. Criticism elevated following the Jan. 6 riot when main social media corporations suspended then-President Donald Trump’s accounts.

Analysis has usually discovered, nevertheless, that main social media platforms do not need a bias towards conservative voices.

The prospect of looser content material moderation insurance policies has led others to concern that the platform may see an increase in disinformation, conspiracy theories and on-line harassment below Musk’s possession. 

Some Democrats have additionally criticized Twitter’s cope with Musk. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, tweeted Tuesday that “it’s harmful for our democracy to have a lot energy in so few palms.”

Extra:The night time after Musk takeover, a congressional Twitter shake-up: Republicans achieve followers, Democrats lose them

However Grassley has mentioned he believes the acquisition could possibly be a lift totally free speech.  

On Wednesday morning, he tweeted, “Will the Twitter gods ship & make Twitter a free speech haven???” 

Grassley mentioned a method he may see the change affecting him is that he would not have to fret about being shut out of the platform. However, he added, that hasn’t been a problem up to now. 

“I do not know whether or not I’ve ever been shut out of Twitter,” he mentioned. 

Grassley is operating for his eighth time period within the Senate. Democrats are holding a three-way main between former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, retired Navy admiral Mike Franken and physician and Minden Metropolis Council member Glenn Hurst.  

Ian Richardson covers the Iowa Statehouse for the Des Moines Register. Attain him at irichardson@registermedia.com, at 515-284-8254, or on Twitter at @DMRIanR.