logo
WATCH: Dem Jasmine Crockett silent as aide attempts to intimidate, block reporter's question about violence

WATCH: Dem Jasmine Crockett silent as aide attempts to intimidate, block reporter's question about violence

Yahoo04-04-2025
Far-left Democrat Jasmine Crockett of Texas watched silently as an aide got into a Fox News Digital reporter's face and attempted to intimidate him from asking a question about whether Democrat rhetoric has contributed to the ongoing spate of violent attacks against Tesla owners and dealers.
After weeks of Democrats condemning Elon Musk for his role at DOGE, there have been at least 80 acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles in the U.S. and Canada and at least 10 incidents of vandalism and arson against Tesla dealerships, charging stations and properties.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the Justice Department is treating the incidents as "domestic terrorism."
Bondi warned Crockett in particular to "tread very carefully" after she called for Elon Musk to be "taken down" during a "Tesla Takedown" event.
Trump Wants Musk To Stay With Administration, Says Doge Found Something 'Horrible' Today
In light of this, a Fox News Digital reporter asked, "What's your response to the attorney general saying you're threatening lives with your rhetoric against Musk and Tesla?"
Read On The Fox News App
Crockett, who was surrounded by aides and security personnel, did not answer the question, but an aide approached the reporter, getting right into the camera, prompting the reporter to ask, "Why are you in my face?" to which he responded, "I'm not."
"[I'm] just asking her a question, she's an elected member of Congress," the reporter said, to which the aide responded, "Talk," without moving any farther away.
"Congresswoman, do you see any connection to you saying you want to take down Musk to the violence that's going on in the streets?" the reporter asked.
Dem Congressman Lashes Musk In Opening Salvo Of Populist Bid In 2026 Swing-state Senate Race
Crockett did not respond or make eye contact, but her aide continued to stare intently at the reporter as they walked away.
Notably, Crockett, whose recent controversial statements have attracted a great deal of attention and criticism, appeared to be escorted by a Capitol police officer despite previously advocating for the "defund the police movement," calling it a movement of "healing."
Crockett's remarks came during a nationwide call with the Tesla Takedown movement, a self-described "peaceful protest platform" calling for Tesla owners to sell their vehicles and for all to dump their stock in the EV provider.
"On March 29, it's my birthday," Crockett told the group in reference to a "Global Day of Action" intended to hit back at the company.
Hundreds Of 'Tesla Takedown' Protests Erupt Nationwide: 'Movement Of Anger And Hate'
"All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down," she added. "I have learned, as I serve on the DOGE Oversight committee, that there is only one language that the people that are in charge understand right now, and that language is money."
Crockett went on to clarify that her calls to action are "nonviolent" and are about figuratively "fighting" for democracy.
"We know that we are peaceful, loving people, and this is not about violence," she added.
However, the continuing incidents of firebombing, vandalism and even a shooting at Tesla dealerships bring the peaceful nature of the anti-Tesla movement into question.
Jonathan Turley Warns Democrats 'Shredding' Their Own Beliefs With 'Dangerous' Anti-musk Campaign
Amid the Justice Department's crackdown on the violence, three people accused of damaging Teslas and EV charging stations now face up to 20 years in prison for alleged "domestic terrorism."
"People need to know that the three people in custody right now … will receive severe and swift consequences. … We are not coming off these charges. We are looking at everything, especially if this is a concerted effort. This is domestic terrorism," Bondi said.
Fox News Digital editor Taylor Penley contributed to this report.Original article source: WATCH: Dem Jasmine Crockett silent as aide attempts to intimidate, block reporter's question about violence
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Texas Republicans' redistricting map: How the GOP could increase its stronghold.
Texas Republicans' redistricting map: How the GOP could increase its stronghold.

Yahoo

time3 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Texas Republicans' redistricting map: How the GOP could increase its stronghold.

Texas Republicans and Democrats are engaged in a redistricting battle that is spurring a national partisan war over congressional maps before the 2026 midterms. President Donald Trump's political team pressured Texas lawmakers to redraw the districts this year. Redistricting normally occurs at the beginning of a decade, after the decennial census. But this mid-decade move is aimed at creating more Republican districts in Texas and protecting the GOP's narrow majority in the U.S. House. The most recent proposed map could help Republicans gain five seats held by Democrats. That would give the GOP 30 of Texas' 38 congressional districts. The proposal prompted Texas Democrats to flee the state in July. Their absence during a special legislative session denied the Texas House the number of members needed to advance legislation, a move meant to stop the maps from passing the Legislature. But Gov. Greg Abbott called a second special legislative session and Democrats have returned. Republicans look to gain five U.S. House districts If the 2024 election had taken place under the proposed maps, President Donald Trump would have carried three more districts than he would have under the current congressional map. In addition, Republicans would have better odds in two districts currently held by Democrats that Trump already carried in 2024. Republican share of U.S. House seats already eclipses statewide GOP support Trump won Texas in 2024 with 56% of the vote. But the current Congressional maps drawn in 2021 saw voters preferring him in 71% — or 27 — of the 38 Texas congressional districts. Under the current proposed map, Trump would have carried 79% of districts, meaning the new boundaries are drawn in a way that favors Republicans far beyond their share of statewide voter support last year. How Texas Republicans secured an outsized share of congressional districts Republicans control both chambers of the Texas Legislature, which draws congressional districts. GOP lawmakers in 2021 gave their party an advantage in Congress when they drew the district boundaries. Giving one political party an advantage over the other, or gerrymandering, is something both parties do in states across the country. Under this year's proposed plan, Democratic districts in the Dallas and Houston areas were drawn to increase, or 'pack', the number of Democratic voters in districts the minority party already controls. Packing those districts leaves fewer Democratic voters and more Republican voters in neighboring districts. Consolidating more Democrats into nearby districts could turn seats represented by Democratic U.S. Reps. Julie Johnson in North Texas' 32nd District and Al Green in the Houston area's 9th District into Republican districts. In Hays County, 52.1% of voters chose Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024. Under the new proposal, that county south of Austin is split into two Republican districts, the 21st District and 27th District. Decreasing a party's voting strength is called 'cracking.' Republicans hope Texas voters continue shifting to the right The GOP is gambling that the state continues its rightward shift in the 2026 midterms. Significant Democratic gains in 2018 almost gave Beto O'Rourke the win in the U.S. Senate race. But the pendulum swung back to Republicans when O'Rourke unsuccessfully ran against Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022. Republicans hope that South Texas, whose voters are mostly Hispanic, will continue to skew right in order to flip the seats held by Democrats Rep. Henry Cuellar in the 28th District and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in the 34th District. New map would pack more white, Hispanic and Black voters into districts where they're the majority Parties can carve up districts for political gain, but they cannot redraw the districts to dilute the voting strength of voters of color. Because Black and Hispanic voters in major Texas cities favor Democrats, it can be hard to determine whether lines are drawn for partisan gains versus racial dilution. In Texas, Hispanics make up the largest demographic group and have driven population growth in the state for at least the last 20 years. But Hispanics are the majority in only seven out of 38 proposed districts. Still, there would be one additional district where Hispanic Texans make up the majority. There would be an additional two districts where white Texans are the majority, and an additional two districts with a majority of Black Texans. In addition, the new maps would decrease the number of multiracial districts where no one racial group holds a majority from nine to four, creating two new majority Black districts — the 30th District in Dallas represented by Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett and the solidly blue 18th District in Houston currently vacant since the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner. More all-star speakers confirmed for The Texas Tribune Festival, Nov. 13–15! This year's lineup just got even more exciting with the addition of State Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo; former United States Attorney General Eric Holder; Abby Phillip, anchor of 'CNN NewsNight'; Aaron Reitz, 2026 Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General; and State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.

Suffolk Sheriff Steven Tompkins's arraignment on extortion charges pushed to Thursday
Suffolk Sheriff Steven Tompkins's arraignment on extortion charges pushed to Thursday

Boston Globe

time4 minutes ago

  • Boston Globe

Suffolk Sheriff Steven Tompkins's arraignment on extortion charges pushed to Thursday

Tompkins, a prominent Democrat in Boston political circles, was arrested earlier this month in Florida for allegedly pressuring the company under the threat of revoking a partnership with his office that was central to its licensing application. Prosecutors allege that in addition to forcing a company official to sell him stock for $50,000 before the venture went public, Tompkins subsequently demanded he be repaid after the value of his shares sank below his initial investment. Advertisement Tompkins has served as sheriff since 2013, overseeing the Nashua Street and South Bay jails in Boston and other detention operations in Suffolk County. He was initially appointed sheriff by former governor Deval Patrick, and then won the seat in the following election. He has been very active in local Democratic politics, offering up Tompkins has not resigned nor given any indication that he plans to in light of the criminal charges, though Advertisement Before he was named sheriff, Tompkins worked as the department's chief of external affairs and created the Common Ground Institute, a vocational training program for inmates about to be released, as well as The Choice Program, which sends correctional officers into Boston's public schools. As part of the legislation that shaped the cannabis industry in Massachusetts, the state requires businesses, as part of the licensing process, to lay out plans to promote diversity and invest in individuals and communities disproportionately affected by previous cannabis prohibitions. Federal prosecutors allege a cannabis company hoping to open in Boston sought to meet that licensing requirement through an agreement with Tompkins to train and hire people recently released from jail. But Tompkins used that partnership to extort the stock deal, prosecutors allege. The indictment of Tompkins didn't name the cannabis company. But a person familiar with the matter confirmed it is Ascend Mass, part of Ascend Cannabis, a multistate retailer whose local operations were once run by Tompkins's close friend Andrea Cabral. Cabral has since left the company. She was previously Suffolk County sheriff, and Tompkins was her top aide. When she was appointed to a statewide post as public safety secretary in late 2012, Patrick tapped Tompkins as her successor. Cabral is not the Ascend official who was allegedly extorted, according to the source, who asked for anonymity because they are not authorized to speak about it publicly. Ascend continues to operate the store in question on Friend Street in Boston, which was relicensed most recently in November, according to the state's Cannabis Control Commission. Material from prior Globe stories was used in this report. Advertisement Travis Andersen can be reached at

Ohio governor says sending National Guard to D.C. 'the right thing to do'
Ohio governor says sending National Guard to D.C. 'the right thing to do'

USA Today

time4 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Ohio governor says sending National Guard to D.C. 'the right thing to do'

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is sending 150 Guard members to Washington, D.C., at the request of the secretary of the Army. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Gov. Mike DeWine says it's the "right thing to do" to send 150 Ohio National Guard members to Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump deploys troops and seizes control of the city's Metropolitan Police Department. Trump announced on Aug. 11 that he would deploy National Guard troops to Washington to crack down on crime in the nation's capital. Late Aug. 15, Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll asked DeWine, a two-term Republican, to send military police to D.C. "The initial decision to deploy D.C. National Guard was not my decision. That was the president of the United States' decision," DeWine told the USA TODAY Network's Ohio statehouse bureau. "But when the secretary of the Army asks for backup support to our troops that are already deployed, yes, we will back up our troops." DeWine is one of three Republican governors who said they'll send additional troops, Reuters reported. Ohio state House Democrats are calling on DeWine to bring the Ohio National Guard home. 'Ohio's National Guard exists to protect and serve Ohioans and other Americans in moments of true crisis. When disasters like floods, storms, or community emergencies happen here at home, they're there to rebuild," said Ohio state House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, a Democrat from Cincinnati. "Their mission is helping Ohioans, not serving as props in a president's political theatre." But DeWine says his decision, which was optional, is consistent with how he's deployed the Ohio National Guard in the past. More: DeWine ordered National Guard troops to assist in DC. What to know about Trump's plan What will the Ohio National Guard do in D.C.? The Ohio National Guard will patrol Washington, D.C., and protect federal buildings, DeWine said. "If in doing a patrol or if in standing guard of a federal building, an arrest has to be made, our guard will be in direct contact with the D.C. police department who will make arrests," DeWine said. "Our people won't make the arrests." How long will the Ohio National Guard be in the nation's capital? The Ohio National Guard will leave Aug. 20 for a 30-day deployment, DeWine said. The secretary of the Army could ask for an extension, which DeWine could grant or deny. How often does DeWine deploy the Ohio National Guard? DeWine deployed Ohio National Guard members and Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers to the southern border in 2021. He also sent members to assist with hurricane recovery in Florida, North Carolina and Louisiana. In 2020, DeWine sent the National Guard to Columbus and Cleveland to respond to protests following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In both instances, mayors requested help. The Ohio National Guard played a key role in Ohio's COVID-19 response and assisted with the aftermath of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023. Is the D.C. deployment different? Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser didn't ask for help with the city's violent crime rate, which declined 35% between 2023 and 2024. Attorneys for the District of Columbia are suing the Trump administration over its police takeover. DeWine says that doesn't matter, legally. "The people who don't like it in D.C. don't have the authority. The president of the United States has that authority," DeWine said. "Anybody can argue whether or not he should or shouldn't have the authority, but it's very clear. There is no debate he has the authority to do what he did." But Democrats say the deployment is political. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, said in a statement: "The men and women of Ohio's National Guard signed up to serve their country, not a lawless president who has repeatedly ignored our nation's constitution and principles." Is sending the National Guard optional? It depends. Typically, governors control the National Guard within their states. The federal government can request assistance from state National Guard members, which governors can approve or reject. That is the case with Secretary Driscoll's request for Ohio National Guard assistance in D.C. "The law is not a blank check allowing the president to use military forces anywhere in the country and for any purpose so long as they can find one willing governor," according to a Brennan Center for Justice analysis. In certain circumstances, presidents can federalize the National Guard by invoking the Insurrection Act. But this is rare. Earlier this year, Trump deployed the California National Guard to respond to protests over immigration enforcement − against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. An appeals court ruled that Trump could retain control of the troops while a judge reviews the legality of Trump's decision. Will the Ohio National Guard be deployed to Cincinnati? DeWine said he's received no requests to deploy the Ohio National Guard to Cincinnati, where a viral brawl led to debates about the city's security, and has no plans to deploy them. DeWine instead offered other help to Cincinnati officials that included traffic enforcement and aviation surveillance. "They've taken me up on part of it, but not all of it," DeWine said. "But that's their choice. They have the choice." USA TODAY contributed to this article. State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@ or @jbalmert on X.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store