Most Americans have never heard of Ed Martin, but his name will likely be on a lot of people’s lips in the very near future. Martin is the interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia, and he has ruffled the feathers of some Democrats in the nation’s capital, as well as their stenographers in the establishment media. What is being called Operation Whirlwind – at least, that’s what Martin is calling it – is targeting elected officials who have publicly made what could reasonably be described as violent threats against political opponents.
On Monday, Feb. 17, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) received letters from Martin, inviting them to explain threats they appear to have made against public officials.
Apparent threats of physical violence or incitement of violence against President Donald Trump, his associates, anyone who served in his executive branch, and even his supporters, go back as far as 2016. Many of them were made by Democratic Party officials during rallies or other public appearances. There is no small number of them – in fact, Trump supporters could compile a coffee-table book of quotes.
During his first term in the White House, the then-45th president ignored them, and there is no indication that, as the 47th president, Trump has personally ordered Martin to launch his Operation Whirlwind. Clearly, though, someone has decided that enough is enough.
Operation Whirlwind Zeroes in on Threats
While railing against the efforts of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to uncover jaw-dropping amounts of wasted or misappropriated taxpayer dollars during a recent CNN appearance, Rep. Garcia made a statement that Martin has interpreted as an incitement to direct physical violence. “[And] what I think is really important, and what the American public want, is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight. This is an actual fight for Democracy, for the future of this country," Garcia said.
There isn’t much room for ambiguity or contextualizing when someone uses the phrase “actual weapons.” Ed Martin doesn’t appear to believe so. “At this time, I respectfully request that you clarify your comments from February 12, 2025,” Martin wrote to Garcia, citing the congressman’s words. “This sounds like a threat to Mr. Musk – an appointed representative of President Trump.” The letter adds, “We take threats against public officials seriously. I look forward to your cooperation[.]”
How did Operation Whirlwind get its name? In fact, this originated with none other than Sen. Schumer himself. In March of 2020, as the United States Supreme Court considered what became a landmark abortion case that ended the federal protections for abortion access established by Roe v. Wade, the then-Senate minority leader spoke at a pro-abortion protest in DC. “I wanna tell you, [Supreme Court Justice Neil] Gorsuch, I wanna tell you, [Justice Brett] Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you."
One could argue that Schumer’s threat was not one of violence, but of some other undefined consequences. Still, in 2022, a man who admitted he wanted to kill Kavanaugh was detained near the Justice’s property, carrying burglary tools and at least one weapon. Was the would-be killer inspired by Schumer’s words, uttered two years earlier? It might be a stretch to say he was – but it’s certainly possible.
Following his remarks, Schumer addressed backlash from Republicans by claiming that he “didn't intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court.” But there really aren’t any public opinion or political consequences for the Court, no matter what opinions it issues, so there is still plenty of room for some to speculate that, even if just in the heat and emotion of the moment, the senator was indeed hinting at other unspecified repercussions.
Martin asserted that Schumer directed his remarks at the justices “in a way that many found threatening” and has requested that the senator “clarify” them.
Accountability Time
The establishment media, always ready to circle the wagons around favored politicos, have gone into full outrage mode. Martin is being accused of trying to “silence criticism” of DOGE. CNN even described the US attorney as a ‘right wing activist.” However, none of the many other Democrats who have railed against Elon Musk and DOGE – but without the talk of physical confrontation (and even with such talk, in one or two instances) – have received letters from Martin. There simply is no evidence that Operation Whirlwind is about merely harassing critics. Martin’s two targets (thus far) were not merely expressing criticism.
Certain politicians on the Hill have for years used an extremely broad interpretation of “violent” rhetoric. Trump was accused of inciting an insurrection – and impeached – for telling his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, they would have to “fight like hell” to save the country. At the same time, as already mentioned, those same politicians have often used incendiary language with complete impunity. Just a month into the new administration, it seems that accountability, for a range of past wrongs, may be on the way.
