Summary: A San Bernardino County gang prosecutor is being investigated for making inappropriate comments on social media.
A gang prosecutor for San Bernardino County has been put on paid leave after a series of his comments on Facebook and Instagram offended others. District Attorney Mike Ramos announced during Monday’s news conference that Michael Selyem was being investigated for comments he found “offensive” by Selyem on Facebook and Instagram, according to The Sun.
Ramos claims his office received a complaint about the comments on June 28. He said, “The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office does not condone hate, discrimination or incitement of violence. Our community and the entire criminal justice system depends on having a fair, ethical, and unbiased prosecutor. We must insist on that – an unbiased prosecutor.”
Selyem’s pending cases have been reassigned to other prosecutors. The internal probe may result in disciplinary action, including termination.
His social media comments pertained to an argument he had with someone over a recent police shooting. He wrote, “That s***bag got exactly what he deserved. …You reap what you sow. And by the way go fyourself you liberal s***bag.”
Selyem also spoke out against U.S. Rep Maxine Waters, Mexian immigrants, and former first lady Michelle Obama. He called Waters a “loud-mouthed (expletive) in the ghetto” who “you would think someone would have shot this b**** by now.” His attack of Obama involved editing her picture so she was holding a sign reading “Trump grabbed my penis.”
Ramos added, “I was offended by the comments, not just as the district attorney but as a prosecutor, and I think further, as the district attorney, I was really concerned with comments regarding officer-involved shootings.” These comments affect “the ability for us to ensure the integrity of this office and making sure the public knows that we are doing these cases and investigating these cases in an unbiased fashion.”
Los Angeles civil rights activist Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope, said he will be filing a formal complaint with the California Bar Association in an attempt to get Selyem disbarred. Ali said, “He does not deserve to be serving in any shape, form or fashion in law enforcement at all. This man has proven by his words that he does not have the integrity, the character or the morals to be in that job and working as a D.A. We don’t trust him. Nobody can trust him anymore because his true feelings came out by what he said publicly, not just one time, but several times. He used language that was disparaging, inappropriate and just wrong.”
Ali vows to “take to the streets” with his followers in protest if Selyem is not fired. “We have the power, the proven ability to organize successfully and mobilize people, and the issue has united everybody.”
Others have defended Selyem’s right to free speech. One reader wrote in an email, “Why is it OK for Maxine Walters to spew derogatory and hateful statements with no outcry or removal of her from office, but OK to denounce and remove Selyem? Don’t agree with his postings but it appears the liberal media has once again protected the left.”
Do you think Selyem’s comments warrant disbarment? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
To learn more about others who have gotten in trouble for their posts on social media, read these articles:
- CBS Legal Exec Fired for Comments Regarding Las Vegas Shooting
- Naval Nurses Posted Video of Them Mishandling Newborns
- 3 Lessons about Social Media We Can Learn from the Blac Chyna-Kardashian Lawsuit
Photo: newser.com