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

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.

The remarks drew immediate criticism from conservatives, including the highly controversial Nancy Mace, who filed a resolution to censure Garcia for “inciting violence against a special government employee.” Mace is best known for her hardline stance against the trans community and has used anti-trans slurs during committee hearings.

In his letter, Martin said Garcia’s comments are considered "by some" to be threat against Musk as well as “government staff who work for him.” It is unclear what government employees work for Musk as the Trump administration now says he is, in fact, not the head of DOGE.

“We take threats against public officials very seriously,” Martin wrote.

Martin, who is a "stop the steal" rally organizer, anti-abortion activist who has advocated jailing women who had abortions and Jan. 6 defendant advocate, recently launched “Operation Whirlwind,” which investigates potential threats to federal workers such as Musk, Reuters reports.

Garcia took to social media Thursday, including the Musk-owned social media site X, the decry to letter, saying “no reasonable person would view my comments as a threat.”

“We are living in a dangerous time, and elected members of Congress must have the right to forcefully oppose the Trump Administration,” he continued. “I will not be silenced.”

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify who perceives Garcia's words as a threat.