By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) –Facebook Inc requested a judge to dismiss the U.S. government’s amended antitrust case. The revised case seeks to force Facebook to sell Instagram or WhatsApp.

Facebook (NASDAQ) stated in court that the Federal Trade Commission had not provided a plausible factual basis to label Facebook an illegal monopolist. According to the company, there was no evidence that FTC had made the naked claim that Facebook has or used monopolies.

In August, the FTC filed an amended complaint that added more details to its accusations of social media companies buying or crushing rivals. Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was again asked by the FTC.

Boasberg declared in June, that Facebook did not have monopoly power over the social networking market.

In its amended complaint, the FTC stated that Facebook has dominated U.S. social networking markets with over 65% monthly active users.

Facebook claimed that FTC filed was against the “commercial reality” of strong competition with TikTok and other promising options for consumers.

Facebook requested that Lina Khan, FTC chair, be removed. The FTC decided 3-2 in favor of the amended lawsuit.

Facebook Monday stated that Khan’s participation in filing the amended complaint violated federal ethics rules and due process. Khan’s refusal to recuse herself made the amended complaint invalid.

The spokesperson of the FTC declined to comment immediately.

Also, in August, the agency requested that Facebook be ordered to sell Instagram (which it purchased in 2012 for $1billion) and WhatsApp (which it purchased in 2014 for $19billion).

“The FTC’s fictional market ignores the competitive reality: Facebook competes vigorously with TikTok, iMessage, Twitter (NYSE:), Snapchat, LinkedIn, YouTube, and countless others to help people share, connect, communicate or simply be entertained,” a Facebook spokesperson said. The FTC can’t credibly claim that Facebook holds monopoly power, as such power doesn’t exist.