A veteran American congressman has found himself at the centre of a political storm after being photographed looking at images of scantily clad women on his tablet during a commercial flight.
Brad Sherman, a 71-year-old Democrat from California, was snapped on a flight between Washington DC and his home state last week. The images, which were subsequently shared on social media, showed the politician apparently engrossed in photos of women in lingerie.
The Allegation and The Algorithm Defence
The controversy ignited when a Twitter user publicly questioned why Congressman Sherman felt it appropriate to view such content during a flight. Sherman was quick to issue a firm rebuttal, placing the blame squarely on Twitter's algorithm and its owner, Elon Musk.
In an official statement, the congressman insisted he was merely scrolling through his Twitter feed when the platform's 'For You' page presented him with the suggestive imagery. 'This was nothing more than scrolling through Twitter - and unfortunately Elon Musk has ruined the Twitter algorithm to give people content that they don't ask for or subscribe to,' he stated.
While Twitter is one of the few major social networks that permits pornography, it was confirmed that none of the photos in question depicted actual nudity.
A Political Firestorm Erupts
The incident quickly escalated beyond social media mockery into a partisan political issue. Donald Trump Jr., son of the former president, reposted the images, drawing national attention to the congressman's conduct.
Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace used the opportunity to draw a comparison with her own recent controversy involving law enforcement at an airport. She posted on the platform, now known as X, stating she didn't want to hear criticism about her airport conduct from colleagues or the media in light of Sherman's actions.
When pressed further in an interview with Punchbowl News, Sherman offered a more nuanced explanation. 'If I see a picture of a woman, might I look at it longer than a sunset? Yeah,' he conceded. 'I must've looked at more than 1000 posts. Is it pornography? I don't think Elon Musk thinks so.'
Despite his defence, the congressman acknowledged his error in judgement, admitting: 'Is it appropriate? No.'
The Epstein Files Diversion
In a dramatic counter-offensive, Sherman shifted focus by demanding the release of the Epstein files. He accused Donald Trump Jr., the White House, and MAGA supporters of using his minor scandal to divert attention from more serious matters.
'Simply put - Donald Trump Jr, the White House and MAGA are trying to divert from releasing the Epstein files,' Sherman declared. 'Don Jr and the White House press office are pushing this story when there is no story. Shame on Don Jr, shame on the White House, shame on MAGA. They ought to join the bipartisan demands to release the Epstein files - now.'
Sherman, who has served in Congress since 1997, represents California's 32nd congressional district. The episode highlights ongoing debates about social media responsibility, algorithmic content curation, and the scrutiny faced by public figures in the digital age.
