DOJ Investigates Poetica Coffee Over Dan Goldman Ban and Refund as Israel Rift Roils Brooklyn
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 23
DOJ Investigates Poetica Coffee Over Dan Goldman Ban and Refund as Israel Rift Roils Brooklyn
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 23
Summary
Harmeet Dhillon said the Justice Department opened a civil-rights investigation into Poetica Coffee over alleged "denial of service taunts" after the Brooklyn shop banned Rep. Dan Goldman and refunded his purchase.
Goldman told CNN the visit itself was friendly — including a kind barista and a large tip — and said the later Instagram post accusing him of backing "genocide" was the opposite of what happened in the store.
Poetica’s deleted post said staff would have turned Goldman away if they had recognized him, called him a "genocide enabler," and said his money was refunded because the shop does not serve people it labels racist or fascist.
Goldman, who is Jewish and describes himself as a liberal Zionist critical of Benjamin Netanyahu, said conflating American Jews with Israeli government actions is fueling rising antisemitism in the United States.
The dispute highlights a widening split on the Democratic left over Israel, with Goldman also facing a primary challenge from former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a sharp critic of Israel.