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AntiFascist

(13,227 posts)
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 03:02 PM Feb 23

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.
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Trump DOJ sends probe letter asking Rep. Robert Garcia to clarify a metaphor (Original Post) AntiFascist Feb 23 OP
freedom of speech protected in congress GreenWave Feb 23 #1
It's harassment. QED Feb 23 #2
But the way out of this is to constantly challenge the trump regime oldmanlynn Feb 23 #5
This message was self-deleted by its author Jim__ Feb 23 #3
Edward Martin is another shining example of TSF's merit appointments. sinkingfeeling Feb 23 #4
LOL... AntiFascist Feb 23 #7
Here's his tweet: red dog 1 Feb 23 #6
Oh my fucking gawd! "Do as I say..." C Moon Feb 23 #8
A shining example of weaponizing the DOJ Bayard Feb 23 #9
Trump's DC US Attorney Nom Targets House Dem, Expanding Effort To Stifle Trump Admin Criticism LetMyPeopleVote Feb 23 #10
This happened early last week and Garcia has made a few appearances since then jgmiller Feb 23 #11
Blow it outcher ass, nimrod NBachers Feb 23 #12
CLARIFY A METAPHOR BOSSHOG Feb 23 #13
"clarify a metaphor" LudwigPastorius Feb 23 #14
this is a party that does absolutely NOTHING about actual gun carnage Skittles Feb 24 #15
What part of 3 co-equal branches that is in the Constitution don't "they" get? Botany Feb 24 #16
And tRump got away with a lot worse while garland hid under his desk, having milk and cookies yaesu Feb 24 #17
This article is 3 days old Yonnie3 Feb 24 #18
My bad, I posted this immediately after it was mentioned on MSNBC n/t AntiFascist Feb 24 #22
They're right, they do suffer lack of masculinity, they're also are very thin skinned. Hotler Feb 24 #19
He could easily respond with quotes from their boss. AmericaUnderSiege Feb 24 #20
Well, if they actually understood Miguelito Loveless Feb 24 #21

Response to AntiFascist (Original post)

AntiFascist

(13,227 posts)
7. LOL...
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 03:47 PM
Feb 23
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

(161,693 posts)
10. Trump's DC US Attorney Nom Targets House Dem, Expanding Effort To Stifle Trump Admin Criticism
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 07:20 PM
Feb 23

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

(540 posts)
11. This happened early last week and Garcia has made a few appearances since then
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 10:09 PM
Feb 23

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

(42,072 posts)
13. CLARIFY A METAPHOR
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 11:18 PM
Feb 23

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

LudwigPastorius

(12,196 posts)
14. "clarify a metaphor"
Sun Feb 23, 2025, 11:52 PM
Feb 23

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

Skittles

(163,403 posts)
15. this is a party that does absolutely NOTHING about actual gun carnage
Mon Feb 24, 2025, 03:04 AM
Feb 24

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK THEM

Botany

(73,843 posts)
16. What part of 3 co-equal branches that is in the Constitution don't "they" get?
Mon Feb 24, 2025, 09:03 AM
Feb 24

The DoJ is investigating a sitting American Congressperson for exercising his
right of free speech and his duties to his constituents and the Constitution?

Pam Bondi is a Capo in Trump and Musk’s Crew who work for Godfather Vlad.

yaesu

(8,622 posts)
17. And tRump got away with a lot worse while garland hid under his desk, having milk and cookies
Mon Feb 24, 2025, 09:16 AM
Feb 24

While watching reruns of Mr Rogers neighborhood

Hotler

(12,988 posts)
19. They're right, they do suffer lack of masculinity, they're also are very thin skinned.
Mon Feb 24, 2025, 11:00 AM
Feb 24

I couldn't help myself.
" he called billionaire and presidential advisor Elon Musk a “dick.” , a .....

 

AmericaUnderSiege

(777 posts)
20. He could easily respond with quotes from their boss.
Mon Feb 24, 2025, 12:44 PM
Feb 24

MAGA rhetoric is so violent, there would be no lack of material. Then the regime would have no play but to pursue him for saying things their own master said while insisting the source isn't responsible for it.

And while I'm sure no crime or hypocrisy is beneath these lawless bastards, it would only erode their power faster. That's what you gotta do with people like that: Present them with an endless stream of catch-22s until they're forced to surrender either to logic or justice.

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