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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKathy Griffin Reportedly Interviewed by Fed Agents For More Than Hour
by Rachel Stockman | 8:37 pm, July 3rd, 2017
Comedian and actress Kathy Griffin has reportedly been interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service for more than an hour. The investigation is connected to a recent photograph which showed her holding the bloody head of Donald Trump.
Link to tweet
Griffins attorney contends that the actress was just exercising her constitutional rights.
She basically exercised her First Amendment rights to tell a joke, Dmitry Gorin, a criminal defense attorney representing Griffin said. When you look at everything in the media, all the times entertainers make videos or express themselves in other ways, youve never seen an entertainer, let alone a comedian, be subject to a criminal investigation.
As we previously reported, dont expect her to be arrested for the crude photo.
Link to tweet
This revelation lead Obama ethics Czar Norm Eisen to tweet out this follow up question.
Link to tweet
There is an exception for free speech that incites violence, but a judge would probably consider Griffins photo crude political hyperbole. With that said, the investigation is still ongoing.
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http://lawnewz.com/high-profile/kathy-griffin-reportedly-interviewed-by-fed-agents-for-more-than-hour/
cyclonefence
(4,483 posts)Don't the feds have more to do than investigate a political joke? I'm sure the jihadis took a look at Kathy Griffin's photo and said "oh yeah--*that's* what we'll do!" and began plotting.
PJMcK
(21,988 posts)During the Obama Presidency, if Ted Nugent had "beheaded" the president in a similar fashion, the outcry from our side would have been deafening. There would be demands that the Secret Service have a visit with Nugent. In fact, I believe something similar did happen when Nugent made derogatory comments about Mr. Obama.
Respectfully, would you make the same observation under those circumstances?
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,311 posts)And yes, I felt the same way when President Obama was in office.
I remember hearing Rush Limpballs encouraging college students to get their yucks snitching on their Professors for saying derogatory things about Bush.
There has to be a "reasonable man" standard for what is believed as a threat. Griffin's photo wasn't anywhere near it.
KingCharlemagne
(7,908 posts)First Amendment. Griffin should have simply refused to answer any of their questions.
tblue37
(65,215 posts)investigation is just harassment and intimidation.
B2G
(9,766 posts)Does anyone seriously believe that Kathy Griffith's stupid photo was a call to behead the *president?
If Ted Nugent posted a similar photo using President Obama's head, I would not believe it was a call to behead the President. It would strike me as odd, because Ted Nugent is not a comedian (not intentionally, anyway), and Kathy Griffith is--and not just a comedian but one who is known for doing and saying outrageous things.
If Democrats became upset because Ted Nugent posted a picture of himself with a beheaded President Obama, it would be ugly, with no obvious intent to amuse, and because Nugent has made veiled and unveiled threats of violence against people he disagrees with, *maybe* the Secret Service would feel justified in leaning on him a little. But I wouldn't worry that Nugent was a threat to national security or the President's life.
In short, while I believe your analogy is flawed, yes. I would feel the same way if Ted Nugent were in Kathy Griffith's place.
Merlot
(9,696 posts)tblue37
(65,215 posts)intimidation (of anyone who is inclined to mock or criticize Dear Leader).
Mc Mike
(9,111 posts)until a 98 lb comedienne scares the bejesus out of them with a twitter photo.
Wonder how much time the SS put into investigating Nugent, Baldasaro, and dRumpf, when they made their very public threats against high profile protected persons.
vanlassie
(5,663 posts)for them. She's hilarious.
dembotoz
(16,784 posts)Yes she is hilarious
Yes I would pay to see her
But this is uncharted territory
You don't think u are going to prison but this is trump land and she made herself vulnerable in it
GoCubsGo
(32,073 posts)And, what they were really doing after a half-hearted slap on the wrist was sitting around while Kathy told them jokes. I find it hard to believe that the USSS is not as sick of that vulgar talking yam as are the rest of us.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)They probably questioned her more about people she knows, and organizations she's affiliatd with formally, or informally. That's their job.
lpbk2713
(42,736 posts)But because the stooges in Trump's inner circle wanted
them to make a visit in order to intimidate her. From what
I know of KG I wouldn't say they succeeded.