Judge: DA Can Subpoena Occupy Protester Tweets

A Manhattan criminal court judge ruled Friday there are reasonable grounds to believe the information is relevant.

A judge says an Occupy Wall Street protester can't stop prosecutors from getting his tweets as part of a case surrounding his arrest at a demonstration.

A Manhattan criminal court judge ruled Friday there are reasonable grounds to believe the information is relevant. The judge also says Malcolm Harris can't legally challenge the subpoena sent to Twitter Inc., not him.

Harris was among more than 700 demonstrators arrested Oct. 1 on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Harris' lawyer, Martin Stolar, says he strongly disagrees with the ruling. He argues that although the tweets were sent publicly, some of the information sought violates Harris' privacy and free association rights.

The Manhattan district attorney's office has said it's fair to pursue messages Harris sent worldwide. Prosecutors say the tweets may contradict his defense.

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