A California congressman is discovering out what occurs whenever you dare to mock Elon Musk in Donald Trump’s America.
Rep. Robert Garcia on Thursday posted a letter he obtained from the Division of Justice saying that billionaire co-President Musk and his minions within the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity are involved that the outspoken Democrat is threatening them.
“So if you criticize Elon Musk, Trump’s DOJ will send you this letter,” Garcia wrote on Bluesky. “Members of Congress must have the right to forcefully oppose the Trump Administration. I will not be silenced.”
The letter addressed to Garcia and signed by interim U.S. legal professional for the District of Columbia Edward R. Martin Jr. quotes the congressman’s Feb. 12 look on CNN.
“What the American public desires is for us to convey precise weapons to this bar combat,” Garcia mentioned when requested how Democrats can cease the unelected Musk’s takeover of the U.S. authorities. “This is an actual fight for democracy.”
The letter to Garcia seems to be a gap salvo in “Operation Whirlwind,” a brand new push to prosecute threats towards public officers that Martin introduced to DOJ prosecutors on Wednesday.
“This sounds to some like a threat to Mr. Musk,” the letter continues, “an appointed representative of President Donald Trump who you call a ‘dick’—and government staff who work for him. Their concerns have led to this inquiry.”
Martin seemed to be referring to the Delivering on Authorities Effectivity subcommittee’s first chaotic listening to, the place Garcia chided chair Marjorie Taylor Greene’s earlier antics.
“In the last Congress, Chairwoman Greene literally showed a dick pic in our Oversight congressional hearing. So, I thought I’d bring one as well,” Garcia mentioned earlier than proffering an image of Musk.
Throughout his CNN look, host Brianna Keilar requested Garcia a query: “Do you think that calling Elon Musk a ‘dick’ is effective messaging for confronting what is a potentially irreversible transformation of the U.S. government?”
The congressman pulled no punches in his response.
“Well, he is a dick, and I think he’s also harming the American public in an enormous way,” Garcia mentioned. “What I think is really important and what the American public wants 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.”
Who’s to say if Musk is certainly a “dick” or not? The actual fact of the matter is that calling the world’s richest man a “dick” isn’t a bodily menace, and Garcia’s First Modification rights permit him to make use of the descriptor.
So “dick” or not, self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” Musk and the Division of Justice haven’t any proper to be threatening a congressman.
Martin beforehand sucked as much as Musk by threatening authorized motion towards individuals perceived to be harassing his nameless and unvetted DOGE dorks as they gained entry to Individuals’ delicate private and monetary info.
Garcia is one among six Democrats on the Delivering on Authorities Effectivity subcommittee. Below the management of notorious crackpot Greene, the committee’s first listening to went off the rails nearly immediately.
The Southern California congressman has been vocal in demanding solutions from Musk and Trump for his or her possible unlawful efforts to dismantle authorities businesses. GOP Rep. Nancy Mace has additionally threatened to file a decision to censure Garcia over his “bring actual weapons to a bar fight” determine of speech, which is a variation of “Never bring a knife to a gun fight.”
Right here is the complete textual content of Martin’s letter to Garcia:
As United States Lawyer for the District of Columbia, I obtain requests for info and clarification. I take these requests critically and act on them with letters like this one you might be receiving.
Presently, I respectfully request that you simply make clear your feedback from February 12, 2025. Throughout a dwell interview with CNN, when requested how Democrats can cease Elon Musk, you spoke clearly: “What the American public wants is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight. This is an actual fight for democracy.”
This sounds to some like a menace to Mr. Musk – an appointed consultant of President Donald Trump who you name a “dick” – and authorities employees who work for him. Their issues have led to this inquiry.
We take threats towards public officers very critically. I sit up for your cooperation with my letter of inquiry after request. Thanks upfront on your help. Please reply by February 24, 2025. Ought to you’ve got additional questions concerning this matter, please don’t hesitate to name my workplace or schedule a time to fulfill in particular person.
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