Comedian Kathy Griffin’s ill-conceived joke, in which she posed for a photo holding an object designed to look like the severed head of President Trump, faced a considerable and understandable backlash. However, that was weeks ago. Now, Ms. Griffin and the infamous headshot are back in the public eye. The latest news is that she underwent an hour-plus long interview with the United States Secret Service:
While her controversial stunt resulted in some serious professional consequences, it also earned her a lengthy visit from the U.S. Secret Service.
Secret Service agents reportedly tracked down Griffin and interviewed her in person for more than an hour. Further, the investigation into the bloody head debacle remains open.
Griffin’s attorney, Dmitry Gorin, has claimed the comedian was merely exercising her “First Amendment rights to tell a joke.”
What we don’t learn from the piece is why Mr. Gorin agreed to the interview in the first place. Surely the Secret Service cannot believe that comedian Griffin presents a genuine threat or danger to the President? Attempts at satire, artistic displays of criticism, etc., are free speech and whether or not they are successful, or well-done matters not. Why would Ms. Griffin or her attorney allow the agents to interpret something she said as a threat? What benefit could Ms. Griffin receive from the interview?
If this were a conservative comedian interviewed weeks after a controversial criticism of a Democrat President, Conservatives would rightfully be upset at what seems like an attempt to pile on – and this is no different. Ms. Griffin exercised nothing more than her free speech rights in criticizing the president. That she did so in a manner many consider outrageous, does not change the nature of her act. She should be left alone and to the market to sort out her future in comedy. She (and you, dear reader) should also watch the video below where law professor James Duane explains why no-one, especially the innocent, should speak with police.
