Editorial: Bill Essayli should spend less time on social media

Government officials should probably spend less time posting their hot takes on social media.

Former California Assemblyman Bill Essayli certainly made a name for himself as a rhetorical bomb-thrower in the California Legislature.

Now First Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California under the Trump administration, Essayli drew national attention over the weekend for an ill-conceived X post of his in response to the shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you,” Essayli posted.

Essayli’s post immediately drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, including from the National Rifle Association.

“This sentiment from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California is dangerous and wrong,” the NRA posted. “Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”

The NRA is totally right about this, of course. When federal agents gun someone down, the response from anyone in a top law enforcement post should be to await a full airing of the facts before making sweeping claims.

Harsher on Essayli was Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who responded, “Carrying a firearm is not a death sentence, it’s a Constitutionally protected God-given right, and if you don’t understand this you have no business in law enforcement or government.”

Last we checked, the Second Amendment and the U.S. Supreme Court have indeed enshrined in our system of government the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Minnesota officials confirmed that Pretti had a license to carry a concealed weapon, which he had holstered at the time he was confronted by federal agents who ultimately shot him to death.

This was a point Gun Owners of America emphasized in their response to Essayli.

“Federal agents are not ‘highly likely’ to be ‘legally justified’ in ‘shooting’ concealed carry licensees who approach while lawfully carrying a firearm,” the group posted in response. “The Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to bear arms while protesting—a right the federal government must not infringe upon.”

As Essayli certainly knows, the specific facts of a case at hand matter. The purpose of investigations are to sort things out appropriately. It’s one thing for a random person to spout off on social media, but for a top federal lawman to rush ahead of the facts is just irresponsible.

Essayli unfortunately doubled down, posting, “Ignore the Antifa ‘pro-2A’ accounts working overtime to justify violence against law enforcement. No one is buying it, and we will restore law and order on American streets.”

While Essayli might think invoking “Antifa” and apparently a conspiracy of Antifa members pretending to support the Second Amendment would shield him from criticism, he’s certainly wrong about that. This sloppy and hyperpoliticized approach to his position might earn him kudos in MAGA circles, but it undermines confidence in the legitimate work that Essayli and his team are working on.

For instance, Essayli deserves kudos for his ongoing efforts to investigate and root out fraud in Los Angeles’ homelessness industrial-complex. In the last week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California announced charges against Alexander Soofer for allegedly “fraudulently obtaining $23 million in public money intended to combat homelessness and pocketing at least $10 million of it…”

That’s important work. Essayli should really spend less time posting nonsense on social media and more time doing the job he’s been appointed to do.