US Attorney’s ‘Operation Whirlwind’ Is About Retribution

There can be a fine line between free speech and illegal threats. However, some political statements in the crosshairs of Washington’s top federal prosecutor are not a close call.

According to reports, Ed Martin, the interim US attorney for the District of Columbia, has launched “Operation Whirlwind” to investigate threats against public officials. As part of the program, Martin is sending some people letters seeking “clarification” of statements they’ve made. While prosecuting true threats is a laudable goal, the weak legal basis for his inquiry suggests that this effort is more about chilling political speech than protecting the public.