Michael Selyem, the lead hard-core gang prosecutor in the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, is under internal investigation for a series of offensive posts on social media accounts that have now been deleted.
The veteran prosecutor came under fire after he made a series of vulgar and racially offensive posts and comments online. He called for the shooting of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) while also attacking former First Lady Michelle Obama and Mexican immigrants.
According to The San Bernardino Sun, Deputy District Attorney Selyem is a 12-year veteran of the county District Attorney’s office, and he is now facing public outrage from many residents who are calling for his dismissal. His offensive comments were made on his Facebook account.
The newspaper’s report says that Selyem attacked Rep. Waters by writing online: “Being a loud-mouthed c*nt in the ghetto you would think someone would have shot this b*tch by now …”
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The prosecutor also put online a photograph of Michelle Obama which had been changed to show her holding up a sign saying, “Trump grabbed my penis.”
Discussing a recent local police shooting, Selyem vented his frustration and showed his true “conservative” colors by writing, “That sh*tbag got exactly what he deserved. … You reap what you sow. And by the way go f*ck yourself you liberal sh*tbag.”
According to the Sun, the District Attorney’s office had been aware of Selyem’s racist and inappropriate internet postings for over a week and they are now conducting an internal review of the matter.
District Attorney Mike Ramos said Friday in a written statement:
“We have been made aware of the negative comments and they do not represent the views of the District Attorney’s Office. Since this is a personnel matter I cannot comment any further.”
According to the Sun’s article, Selyem has closed his Facebook and other social media accounts.
By standing up to Donald Trump Rep. Waters has been attracting a great deal of media attention as well as attacks from the president’s misogynistic and racist followers.
Last week she was attacked by a bar owner in Virginia who said she should “shut her big fat lips and go back to Africa.”
Last weekend she responded to death threats she had received earlier in the week by saying if anybody comes after her they “better shoot straight.”
This latest report from a California public official is disturbing but not surprising as more people feel that saying offensive things in public is OK now because they are just following the horrible example of the President of the United States.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
