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Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson speaks to the Milwaukee Press Club, June 3, 2021.(Photo: Milwaukee Press Club screen grab)

The Milwaukee Press Club circumvented a YouTube ban and has now posted on its websitea controversial interview with Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.

On Friday, Johnson was suspended from uploading videos to YouTube after the company said he violated the website's COVID-19 "medical misinformation policies."

Johnson made the comments in questionduring a June 3 appearance with the Milwaukee Press Club.

The full video was also taken down from the press club's YouTube site, with an accompanying message that said it wasremoved "for violating YouTube's community guidelines."

In a statement issued Sunday, the press club said:"As an organization that includes journalists as well as others who strongly support our nations First Amendment, the Milwaukee Press Club believes it is extremely important to provide information on topics of interest regardless of their political perspective.

"Its also important to note, while we do provide this access, we do not endorse the positions of our Newsmakers or any other guests who speak at our programs."

The Milwaukee Press Club states it is"the oldest continuously operated press club in North America."

In taking down Johnson's remarks, aYouTube spokesperson said: "We removed the video in accordance with our COVID-19 medical misinformation policies, which dont allow content that encourages people to use Hydroxychloroquine or Ivermectin to treat or prevent the virus."

According to a copy of its policy statement: "YouTube doesn't allow content that spreads medical misinformation that contradicts local health authorities or the World Health Organizations (WHO) medical information about COVID-19."

During the nearly hour-long interview, Johnson was asked a range of policy questions. According to his office, the segment that ran afoul of YouTube came in response to a question on some of his views on COVID-19 treatments.

During the appearance, Johnson criticized the Trump and Biden administrations for "not only ignoring but working against robust research (on) the use of cheap, generic drugs to be repurposed for early treatment of COVID."

In a tweet, Johnson expressed support for the press club's reposting of the video.

"I think they're right," he said. "Interesting YouTube doesn't agree."

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YouTube took down Ron Johnson's controversial remarks on COVID-19. The Milwaukee Press Club has reposted the entire interview. - Milwaukee Journal...