In now-deleted tweet, Republican claimed the 1st Amendment is limited by 'hate speech'

A post claiming that the First Amendment is limited by "hate speech" has been deleted from Rep. Nick LaLota's (R-N.Y.) @RepLaLota X account.

"Our First Amendment comes with very few limitations. Yet, one of those worthy limitations is hate speech," the post read, according to screenshots of the now-deleted tweet. "A first-year law student understands this and so should the presidents of our 'greatest' institutions of learning."

LaLota took office earlier this year and is seeking re-election.

According to his congressional website, the lawmaker has "a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law."

The First Amendment reads, in part, "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech."

People pounced on the congressman's post.

"First Amendment lawyer here. You are laughably wrong, and in saying 'even a first year law student understands it' you smashed a whole carton of eggson [sic] your own face. You're a Congressman. Please educate yourself (lots of CLE might be needed) before spreading misinformation," Ari Cohn tweeted.

"We need a system that doesn’t allow for people like this to be anywhere near the levers of power," Jack Posobiec wrote.

LaLota was one of the 18 House GOP lawmakers who earlier this year voted against a Defense Department appropriations bill amendment that would have prohibited the funds from being spent to observe Pride Month.

The congressman is a member of the House's Climate Solutions Caucus.

"We need to work in a serious and bipartisan manner to tackle pollution and mitigate mankind's negative effect on our environment. I joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus to do just that," LaLota said, according to a July press release.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!