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AntiFascist

(13,073 posts)
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 02:02 PM 9 hrs ago

Trump DOJ sends probe letter asking Rep. Robert Garcia to clarify a metaphor

Source: Long Beach Watchdog

Garcia, who represents Long Beach in Congress, faces censure after criticizing billionaire Elon Musk and referring to the current state of American politics as a 'bar fight' requiring 'actual weapons.'

The Department of Justice has launched a probe into Long Beach Rep. Robert Garcia after the congressman used a metaphor to describe the current state of American politics as a “bar fight” that requires “actual weapons.”

In a Feb. 17 letter to Garcia, U.S. State Attorney Edward Martin asked for clarification on the remarks made by the congressman on Feb. 12 following a Department of Government Efficiency subcommittee hearing during which he called billionaire and presidential advisor Elon Musk a “dick.”
...
“What I think is really important and what the American public want is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight. This is an actual fight for democracy, for the future of this country. And it’s important to push back on the chairperson of this committee,” Garcia said after the meeting, which was presided over by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.


Read more: https://lbwatchdog.com/trump-doj-sends-probe-letter-asking-rep-robert-garcia-to-clarify-a-metaphor/



California needs to utilize a "well-regulated militia" to prepare for defending democracy. It would be perfectly Constitutional.
14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump DOJ sends probe letter asking Rep. Robert Garcia to clarify a metaphor (Original Post) AntiFascist 9 hrs ago OP
freedom of speech protected in congress GreenWave 9 hrs ago #1
It's harassment. QED 9 hrs ago #2
But the way out of this is to constantly challenge the trump regime oldmanlynn 8 hrs ago #5
This message was self-deleted by its author Jim__ 9 hrs ago #3
Edward Martin is another shining example of TSF's merit appointments. sinkingfeeling 8 hrs ago #4
LOL... AntiFascist 8 hrs ago #7
Here's his tweet: red dog 1 8 hrs ago #6
Oh my fucking gawd! "Do as I say..." C Moon 8 hrs ago #8
A shining example of weaponizing the DOJ Bayard 8 hrs ago #9
Trump's DC US Attorney Nom Targets House Dem, Expanding Effort To Stifle Trump Admin Criticism LetMyPeopleVote 4 hrs ago #10
This happened early last week and Garcia has made a few appearances since then jgmiller 2 hrs ago #11
Blow it outcher ass, nimrod NBachers 1 hr ago #12
CLARIFY A METAPHOR BOSSHOG 58 min ago #13
"clarify a metaphor" LudwigPastorius 24 min ago #14

Response to AntiFascist (Original post)

AntiFascist

(13,073 posts)
7. LOL...
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 02:47 PM
8 hrs ago
Last week during a congressional hearing, Garcia held up what he called “a dick pic” that turned out to be an image of Musk, whom President Donald Trump has appointed to lead the “Department of Government Efficiency.” Afterward on CNN, Garcia was asked about the stunt.

“Well, he is a dick,” Garcia insisted. “And I also think he’s harming the American public in an enormous way. And what I think is really important and what the American public want is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight. This is an actual fight for democracy, for the future of this country.”

https://www.mediaite.com/politics/maga-u-s-attorney-sends-letter-to-house-democrat-over-criticism-of-elon-musk-who-you-call-a-dick/

LetMyPeopleVote

(158,572 posts)
10. Trump's DC US Attorney Nom Targets House Dem, Expanding Effort To Stifle Trump Admin Criticism
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 06:20 PM
4 hrs ago

Musk does not believe in the First Amendment and wants all criticism or investigations into him squashed. Musk and the DOJ once claimed that it was illegal to identify the muskrates/kids who are part of the DOGE team. Musk's assholes are being identified. Now an asshole who is the DOJ are targeting members of congress
https://bsky.app/profile/bhfleurs.bsky.social/post/3limt2hgxrc2l



https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trumps-dc-us-attorney-nom-targets-house-dem-expanding-effort-to-stifle-trump-admin-criticism

Acting Washington, D.C. U.S. attorney Ed Martin is escalating his psuedo-investigations of what he describes as purported threats to billionaire Elon Musk, the staff of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and other federal workers by now demanding information from a House Democrat.

Martin has already targeted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as part of his supposed investigations into threats against public officials. The effort appears designed to smother freedom of speech and criticism of Musk and the Trump administration.

In a “letter of inquiry” sent to Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Martin requested that Garcia “clarify” statements he made regarding Musk during a CNN interview last week. Martin, the acting USA in D.C. whom Trump has nominated to hold the position permanently, is a Trump loyalist and Jan. 6 activist who represented some of the insurrectionist defendants in court.

What the American public wants is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight,” Garcia said, referring to Democrats pushing back against Musk and DOGE freezing federal funds and purging the federal workforce, following a House subcommittee hearing on the issue. “This is an actual fight for democracy.”

In his letter of inquiry, Martin said the comment “sounds to some like a threat to Mr. Musk … and government staff who work for him.”

“Their concerns have led to this inquiry,” he added......

The letter of inquiry comes amid a Wednesday all staff email Martin sent out, announcing “Operation Whirlwind” — a new initiative, he claims, will hold those who threaten federal workers accountable. So far, he has only targeted congressional Democrats who have publicly criticized the Supreme Court or the Trump administration.

“We are the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office; we are the guardians of federal workers,” Martin wrote in the email. “You and I must do whatever possible to assure government work is safe for all involved. We must protect our cops, our prosecutors, our DOGE employees, the President, and all other government employees.”

jgmiller

(503 posts)
11. This happened early last week and Garcia has made a few appearances since then
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 09:09 PM
2 hrs ago

Unfortunately when he was on CNN the other day and they asked him what his response was he made it sound like he was going to respond by explaining what he said. I think this is exactly the wrong response, the correct response should be "I don't respond to idiotic letters that violate the first ammendment."

BOSSHOG

(41,125 posts)
13. CLARIFY A METAPHOR
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 10:18 PM
58 min ago

Who would do it more Justice? Mick Jagger, John Mellencamp or Sting? Janis Joplin, Buck Owen’s from the grave?

LudwigPastorius

(11,677 posts)
14. "clarify a metaphor"
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 10:52 PM
24 min ago

OK. Saying "bring actual weapons to a bar fight" is a metaphor...like saying U.S. Attorney Edward Martin is "Trump's bitch".

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