Controversial right-wing provocateur Nick Fuentes reportedly placed on 'no-fly list'

In the wake of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, there have been anecdotal accounts circulating about people who were either in attendance at the riot that day or simply at the previous Trump rally being placed on "no fly lists" and being unable to move about freely. Tucker Carlson reported on this latest curtailment of liberties on Tuesday night.

Carlson said that no matter what political views a person holds, whether far right, far left, or anything in between, their travel should not be limited because of them.

Right-wing commentator Nick Fuentes, who has been widely accused of anti-semitism, claimed that he has been placed on that no-fly list.

Fuentes presented a video that appears to show that he will not be allowed to fly on Southwest, specifically, with the agent telling him that she was told that he is "not allowed to fly."

In the video, Fuentes can be heard to ask an airline representative "Who did you say to talk to down there?"

"You can try talking to ... we're not saying that they're going to have an answer," she says. She identifies who he should talk to, but says "I'm not sure they'll have an answer for you."

"Okay," Fuentes replies. "And there's no way I can get on this plane?"

"No," she says. "They're not letting you fly with Southwest." Fuentes asks if he could perhaps get on a flight with another carrier. "I'm not sure," she says. "I know that was a TSA number, I'm not sure if you're blocked from just a no flight list."

"Did they give you a reason?" He asks.

"No."

"It's a no fly list you said?"

"I'm not sure," she says. "They just told me that you're not allowed to fly. That's all they told me."

"Okay, thank you," he says, as he walks away.

In response, journalist Michelle Malkin filed a Freedom of Information Act request to get a clearer picture of what's going on. Malkin asked for:

"The policy statement outlining the processes and criteria according to which officials nominate, consider and approve names for the no-fly list, selectee list and extended selectee list."

"All information, documents, records, and communications within the TSA and/or between TSA and the FBI regarding attendees of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol rally and their inclusion on the no-fly list, selectee list and extended selectee list from Jan. 6, 2021 through the present."

Malkin also wanted to know the level of classification of the information, and the "specific authority which classified this information," as well as the "specific classification categories of this information, as well as an identification or description of the damage to national security which the disclosure of this information would produce."

Journalist Elijah Schaffer reached out to the TSA. The TSA told him to direct his queries to the FBI.

The FBI will not confirm or deny.

Fuentes hasn't been convicted of anything with regards to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, yet it appears he is being denied his rights to move about freely. While he is a controversial figure, and well-derided, critics are concerned about the implications of the government and its agencies prohibiting his ability to travel.

Many on social media spoke out against his views, while defending his rights. Inez Stepman, of the Independent Women's Forum and The Federalist, wrote in no uncertain terms that she finds Fuentes' views abhorrent, but that there should not be "political tests to fly."

The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh was also concerned about the potentiality that the government is limiting citizens' movements due to their political views.

Crimes have not been committed, but there is little to no redress for this punishment.

Others posited that the reason Fuentes was prevented from traveling was because in December 2020 he had kicked off his flight for not properly masking. This was according to Fuentes' own account at the time.

Fuentes has come under fire by both left and right for his participation in white nationalist groups. The fact that people who despise him and his views have spoken out in favor of his rights speaks to the severity of the potentiality that federal government agencies would prevent someone from traveling on the basis of their political views.