NOW PLAYING
The Justice Department (DOJ) launched an investigation into a New York City coffee shop that said it would have refused service to pro-Israel Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) if it had recognized him, according to U.S. Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon.
In a since-deleted Instagram post, Poetica Coffee wrote on Sunday that it issued a refund to the lawmaker after realizing who he was and said, “Don’t ever come to Poetica.”
“We see that you stopped by our shop today for coffee,” the shop said in the post, Reuters reported.
“We don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers or anyone in between,” it continued. “Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away.”
An Instagram account linked to the shop’s website appears to have been deactivated.
Goldman told CNN’s Laura Coates on Monday evening that he brought his daughter into the place to use the bathroom and bought a coffee and left a “large tip” as a thank you.
He noted the company’s later post was “quite surprising” given the “nice interaction” with the shop’s barista, who he said was wearing a hijab.
“It was diametrically opposite to that post that I came upon later, and it’s a reflection I think of a sad state of affairs that without knowing me we could’ve had such a nice interaction,” Goldman said. “Two people, obviously from different backgrounds, different faiths, but that’s what America is and that’s what New York City is. That is what I believe in.”
Dhillon announced in a social media post on Monday that the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into this incident and “will bring enforcement action if warranted.”
“Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin,” she wrote. “These actions are not only reprehensible, they’re potentially illegal.”
Add as preferred source on Google Tags Civil Rights Division Daniel Goldman DOJ Harmeet Dhillon Laura Coates New York New York City Poetica Coffee Trump administrationCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments: Link copiedMore State Watch News
See All
Administration From peace talks to Pennsylvania: Trump visiting Mack Truck facility by MIKE CATALINI and SEUNG MIN KIM, Associated Press 52 minutes ago Administration / 52 minutes ago 
