RantCrush Top 5: May 16, 2017

GOP Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen sent a letter to an activist’s employer, which the activist claims caused her to lose her job. Saily Avelenda is a member of an activist group called NJ 11th for Change. The group is trying to get Frelinghuysen to hold a town hall meeting, which he hasn’t done in four years. Recently, Frelinghuysen wrote a letter attempting to solicit donations from a bank where Avelenda was a senior vice president, and he added in a paragraph about the group. He called the members “organized forces” that are trying to “put a stop to an agenda of limited government, economic growth, and stronger national security.” He then added a handwritten note, saying, “One of the ringleaders works in your bank!” He also attached a news article that quoted Avelenda.

.@USRepRodney, annoyed by the political activism of one of his constituents, sent a letter to her employer: https://t.co/6wbUnNpc1i

— Kate Hinds (@katehinds) May 15, 2017

Avelenda felt pressured by her employer to resign and is now criticizing Frelinghuysen for what she claims is an abuse of power. Democrats have also spoken out against the controversy: “Frelinghuysen has gone from simply refusing to meet with his constituents and telling them to ‘back off’ to threatening constituents who are exercising their freedom of speech,” said Democrat Mikie Sherrill.

The bank board member Frelinghuysen wrote that letter to gave another $250 to Frelinghuysen days later pic.twitter.com/QUxUA7FV60

— Matt Friedman (@MattFriedmanNJ) May 15, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.