Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says he has "no knowledge" of a DUP candidate's involvement in a UDA-linked social media account.
The DUP leader was responding to a question about Belfast City Council candidate Ian McLaughlin's alleged association with the West Belfast UPRG Twitter account.
The UPRG (Ulster Political Research Group) is a body linked to the illegal UDA.
It has been speculated that Mr McLaughlin, a community development officer with the Lower Shankill Community Association, was responsible for posting offensive content from the account, including misogyny and racism.
The DUP has previously refused to confirm or deny his associations with the account, which was deleted a matter of weeks ago, telling journalists that the matter should be referred to Mr McLaughlin's solicitor.
The Court DEA candidate is understood to have been absent from the party's manifesto launch in Belfast on Thursday.
Quizzed on whether Mr McLaughlin was involved with group and Twitter account, Sir Jeffrey said all DUP candidates "go through a selection process".
"Ian is a member of the DUP and has been a member of the DUP for some time, and is not a member of any other political organisation," he said.
"I have no knowledge of Ian's involvement in any Twitter account, and in I believe, in his area is getting good support..
The Lagan Valley MP said the DUP's candidates "reflect, represent and work for the communities they come from".
The DUP leader said his party's representatives had been subjected to abuse on trolling on social media.
