Cease and desist – VICE News
No matter what they may say, politicians dont always welcome their constituents views.
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnsons office recently threatened police action against a constituent if he did not cease and desist calling to criticizeDonald Trump.
This letter acts as written notice of our expectation for you to discontinue your unwarranted telephone calls and office visits, wrote Johnsons staff on Senate stationery in a letter dated Feb. 17. The senators staff said they would report the 72-year-old Milwaukee man, Earl Good, to the Capitol Police if he failed to comply with the letter. And in a follow-up statement to a local CBS station, the senators spokesman said Good had crosse[d] the bounds of decency.
Johnsons office did not answer repeated phone calls and emails asking for examples of such behavior.
After interviewing Good and progressive activists in Wisconsin who have interacted with him at various political events, it seems Good is only guilty of extreme persistence.
Good cops to it. Im sure Johnsons office thinks Im a pain in their ass or a nuisance, he told VICE News. His wife is a Trump supporter and agrees with them, he added ruefully.
The retired hospital lab director and Vietnam veteran, who served on the battleship U.S.S. Buck, started calling Johnsons offices in Wisconsin and Washington a few times a week after Trumps inauguration.
Good said he always called with a specific issue in mind, like Obamacare, gun background checks, or the defense budget. He also called to express his support for Trumps pick of General James Mattis for Secretary of Defense. There have been some times where I stated a position and the staffer laughed, he said. This is not a game; these calls are of my own volition.
Then suddenly he noticed that his calls began going straight to voicemail, especially when he was calling the D.C. office. All congressional office phones are equipped with caller ID.
Every time I got the voicemail, I would hang up, because I wanted to talk to somebody, he said. So he called. And called. And called. Sometimes a staffer would pick up and put him on hold until he hung up. One day, he had to call 83 times until a staffer picked up to talk to him.
He went to Johnsons Milwaukee office and asked to speak to a supervisor about Johnsons positions on certain issues. When he was told it would be a while, he said hed wait and asked if the staff could print out Johnsons press releases so he could study them in the meantime.
Since he received the letter last week, Good says he has so far complied and stopped calling the senators offices.
VICE News couldnt find any other examples of cease and desist letters being sent to constituents, but Republicans across both houses of Congress are struggling to respond to the barrage of phone calls into their offices since Congress came into session on Jan. 3.
Established progressive groups like Planned Parenthood and the American Federation of Teachers along with new Resistance startups like Daily Action and 5 Calls have together organized liberals to make over a million calls to members of Congress to protest various aspects of the Trump administration.
Every left-wing organization is calling my office, Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas told The Washington Post on Congress first day as Republicans considered changing ethics rules.
The phone calls only seem to have ramped up since. One Republican congressmens office increased the number of interns and staff members monitoring incoming phone calls from two to 10 in the last month, Politico Playbook reported.
While the Sergeant at Arms office said it does not provide statistics on incoming phone calls, Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii tweeted on Feb. 2:
Near the end of our interview, Good sheepishly admitted that one time he was so frustrated that he did indeed threaten Johnsons staff. If you hang up on me, he warned, Im going to call back.
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Cease and desist - VICE News
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