UPDATED: Activists say Tom Cotton has issued do-not-call-or-write notice to some constituents

[DonViejo]

Last edited Thu Jan 18, 2018, 05:23 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Arkansas Times

Posted By Max Brantley on Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 8:13 AM

Ozark Indivisible, the activist group that has been pressing members of Congress from Arkansas on health care, immigration and other issues, reported on its Twitter account last night that people calling Sen. Tom Cotton's office had received cease-and-desist letters and posted the image above.

The letter:



I've placed a phone call and sent an email to Cotton's press aide to ask if this is legitimate and, if so, what prompted the letter. She has not responded.

Billy Fleming, a Times contributor, also sent me a copy of the image and an account from a person who reportedly received the letter. That person wrote:



Read more: https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2018/01/18/activists-say-tom-cotton-has-a-do-not-call-or-write-list-for-some-constituents

---

UPDATE:

Cotton’s Office Confirms Cease And Desists ‘Under Extreme Circumstances’

By Caitlin MacNeal | January 18, 2018 1:48 pm

After a local outlet reported that Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R-AR) office sent cease and desist letters to constituents, demanding that they stop any communications with the senator’s office, Cotton’s office explained that it does send such letters. His office said they are sent rarely and only “under extreme circumstances,” but it’s unclear how often they are used.

“Senator Cotton is always happy to hear from Arkansans and encourages everyone to contact his offices to express their thoughts, concerns, and opinions. In order to maintain a safe work environment, if an employee of Senator Cotton receives repeated communications that are harassing and vulgar, or any communication that contains a threat, our policy is to notify the U.S. Capitol Police’s Threat Assessment Section and, in accordance with their guidance, send a cease and desist letter to the individual making the harassing or threatening communication. These letters are rare and only used under extreme circumstances,” Caroline Rabbitt Tabler, Cotton’s communications director, told TPM in an email when asked about the reports.

Tabler did not respond to TPM’s inquiry as to how recently such letters have been sent.

Cotton twice said “no comment” as he entered a Senate elevator when TPM asked him about the letters.

more
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/cotton-office-cease-desist-letters

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Ohhhh...obviously Cottonmouth can't handle negativity...

[NewJeffCT]

5. another RW snowflake

it seems

[Raster]

10. he does love to dish it out...

...but it appears that Tom "Chickenshit" Cotton can't take the heat.

[mikeysnot]

2. WOW

Brazen, an elected official threatening constituents.

[Raster]

12. threatening constituents when they try to express their displeasure in his representation...

... let's face it, Cotton* doesn't represent the citizens of Arkansas, he represents the billionaire rethugs.

[Scarsdale]

22. Bounce his worthless

arse OUT. Seems he does not realize that being a representative means REPRESENTING the people, not himself. Tehran Tom will need to be reminded when he is running for re-election. Oh, and besides that he is losing his hearing. He did not hear tRump using foul language, when he bragged about it to his friends.

[CurtEastPoint]

3. What a smug, pencilneck prick.

[Dave Starsky]

24. Fucking coward, is what he is.

Can't believe that little worm was ever in the military. He must have spent his entire stretch on KP.

[VaBchTgerLily]

4. Isn't it his job to answer constituents questions!?!-Arkansas needs to vote him out!!!

[AtheistCrusader]

6. Bold move, Cotton.

Let's see if that works out for him.

[blugbox]

53. HAHAHA

I need to see this pop up after every bonehead move he makes!

[Arkansas Granny]

7. I wonder if I'll receive one for sending him this email:

Dear Sir:

Assuming you do not have Native American heritage, which shithole country did your ancestors emigrate from?

The President of the United States has once again embarrassed our country with his derogatory statements and name calling.

Is there anyone in Washington who can convince Trump of the need to bring a little decorum and dignity back into the office of President of the United States?

It has become apparent to most reasonable persons that Trump is in over his head and, possibly, out of his mind. A sane, rational person does not talk or act in this manner, but we have come to expect this as normal behavior for the President of the United States.

How sad is that?

[Raster]

8. Senator Tom "Chickenshit" Cotton...

...oh yes, *braaaavvveee* ex-soldier, LIAR and butt-boy for the koch brothers.

[lastlib]

35. (that's "Tehran Tom Chickenshit Cotton".......)

Traitor to America.

[CrispyQ]

9. Someone needs to knock this GOP punk down a peg or two.

He goes on national TV and denigrates a senior senator & a few days later changes his own story, showing who was really lying. Has the smug, nasty, shit apologized? Of course not. I hate the entire GOP.

[Eliot Rosewater]

11. EVERYONE contact this traitor now please, I am going to

His contact form does not include "immigration" as a topic like most do

[niyad]

18. he has been on my speed dial for a while now.

[rurallib]

13. "of the people, by the --- oh fuck the goddamned people

we'll do whatever we want"

[SWBTATTReg]

14. Curious ? ...

Is this trampling on our first amendment rights?

[lagomorph777]

46. This is precisely the behavior that the 1st Amendment is aimed at.

So yes, Cotton is brazenly violating the law. Impeach the fucker now.

[Blue_Adept]

15. While there are times and people where such things must happen

and let's be frank, knowing how some people can be when getting in touch with others to express their views, you have to have a recourse if things go too far and to try and stem it before the person believes it will become physical/violent.

But if there are a lot of these going out and these folks aren't like that, oh man, that's just opening him to a whole world of trouble.

I'm all in favor of being able to say, as a regular citizen and as an elected official, you're no longer able to call or contact me because you've hit an abusive level. But this smacks of cowardice if a lot of people are getting them.

[LeftInTX]

20. This is at the end of the article

From Caroline Tabler, Cotton's press aide:

Tabler said that these letters are rare and only used "under extreme circumstances."

"If an employee of Senator Cotton receives repeated communications that are harassing and vulgar, or any communication that contains a threat, our policy is to notify the U.S. Capitol Police's Threat Assessment Section," Tabler said.

Hopefully there would be documentation of specific types of activity before this type of letter is sent out. The types of behavior should rise above the level of annoying. We could be considered outspoken thorns in Ted Cruz's side, but there is no evidence that we have harassed or threatened any staffer.

[Scarsdale]

23. By "vulgar" does

she mean any words the orange mistake in the WH uses?

[LeftInTX]

27. I have no idea, but they should clearly document any types of inappropriate behavior

before sending a letter.

Saying shithole probably wouldn't do it. But calling a staffer vulgar names may cross the line. OTOH Trump lowered the bar with shithole...so who knows...

[Angry Dragon]

16. POOR BABY COTTON!!

[Iliyah]

17. Typical

He can dish it out, but can't take the pushback, Republican party 101.

[niyad]

19. oh look, all the snowflakes down south are not falling from the sky.

[reflection]

21. Wouldn't he need to get an order of protection or something to achieve this demand?

Last edited Thu Jan 18, 2018, 09:33 PM - Edit history (1)

IANAL, of course, but having gone through the process of getting an order of protection before, I don't think a single person, even a senator, gets carte blanche to "deem" non-threatening communication harassment. The bar is probably even higher for an elected official who represents the people he sends the letters to. Doesn't he have to go to court and have an ex parte order granted first? Even then, the person he seeks to have declared a harasser would get a hearing after that and a chance to tell their side.

On edit: I am an idiot. Corrected obvious grammar error.

[Scarsdale]

26. Oh, please!

He is a republican, and considering running for the WH. We all know rules are for the democratic politicians, and the little people such as constituents.

[LeftInTX]

30. You raise a good question

Although we saw what happened to the handicapped protestors at the capitol and at Mitch McConnell's office.

[reflection]

33. A little different, I think.

It would be a lot easier to argue that those people were restricting freedom of movement, interfering with official business, etc. Not that I agree with any of that of course, but Cotton would be hard pressed to assert that a mean letter rose to that level. Again, IANAL.

[LeftInTX]

40. Duh---I didn't read the article well enough

I just assumed that the letters were directed at repeat visitors that he felt were interfering with business etc.

How can he impose a "Do not call" or "Do not write"? I think he would have to get a restraining order.

[reflection]

43. Exactly.

I was going to say they wouldn't have jurisdiction anyway, but upon looking at it, it appears they have jurisdiction through the entire USA when dealing in protective matters. I still think Cotton doesn't get to decide that though. That letter looks like bluster designed to intimidate and reduce the amount of hate mail he's getting. I don't think the Capitol Police would be too keen on arresting someone for sending him a letter saying "please reconsider your position on DACA" or something. Talk about bad press and the Streisand Effect... it would hit him in spades.

[turbinetree]

25. Cotton doesn't realize that "this" letter, his BS letter means nothing

where is his signature........................


Just because it has a letter head doesn't mean squat..................and if he can't stand the heat resign, or learn how to sign your name...........................what an idiot................


Did he get this confused with the "letter and the 47 other traitors signed....................



November 2018 cannot get here fast enough

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

28. He's violating the Constitution -

the First Amendment gives the people the right to petition the government for redress of grievances. Has anyone contacted the ACLU?

[YessirAtsaFact]

31. Exactly

[not fooled]

48. Yep

Calling the ACLU!

Also, the great Charlie Pierce has the perfect nickname for this tool: "bobble-throated slapdick from Arkansas".

[Kristofer Bry]

29. Cotton is Working Hard

To win the Shittiest Senator Award. He's pissed off they gave the Stupidest Senator Award to Jim Inhofe again.

[lagomorph777]

37. Like the Oscars, we need to invent lots of new awards for these clowns

[bucolic_frolic]

32. Constituents pay that guy's salary!!!

This ought to be illegal.

[TeamPooka]

34. A Senator, and representative of the Federeal government seeks to supress citizen's speech?

Hmmmm. Hello 1st Amendment case.

[lagomorph777]

36. Brazenly illegal

a 1st Amendment violation

[pecosbob]

38. Pardon my vulgarity for a moment

Last edited Thu Jan 18, 2018, 05:01 PM - Edit history (1)

F*ck your cease and desist order...take me to court if you think you can win. Would really like to see them try to enforce that worthless piece of paper. Go hang out on the roof with Darrel Issa.

[pbmus]

39. WTF does he think his job is...??

[JohnnyRingo]

41. Call his bluff

If they weren't harassing him, as he puts it, it'll be worth it to hear the police explain his job responsibilities to him.

[AmericanActivist]

42. No more representation in Representative Republic

His blatant disregard for the majority of constituents is outrageous, unacceptable and UnAmerican!

[Paladin]

44. Per Wonkette.com: Cotton is a "sniveling piss wipe"....

...who lives inside trump's asshole.

Couldn't have said it better, myself.

[No Vested Interest]

45. Glad to know this in advance of any Cabinet or other nomination of Cotton

to higher office.
Let the games begin.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

47. So what I read i keep writing and calling?

[irisblue]

49. Arkansas ACLU & national ACLU said what?

time for another donation.

[ck4829]

50. K&R

[ProudMNDemocrat]

51. Whothe hell does Tom Cotton thinks he works for???????

Obviously NOT THE PEOPLE who voted for him and the rest of the citizenry of Arkansas. How arrogant.

[bluestarone]

52. i'm hoping EVERYONE that recieved this letter

contacts the ACLU!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is total bullshit!!! The office building he occupies IS NOT HIS but belongs to the PEOPLE OF HIS STATE!!! LAWSUIT LAWSUIT LAWSUIT!!!!!!!!!