Justice Department probes NYC coffee shop after it bans congressman over support for Israel

A routine coffee stop in Brooklyn has escalated into a high-stakes federal civil rights investigation. This unprecedented escalation highlights the volatile intersection of international conflict, retail commerce, and public accommodations law. By banning a sitting United States congressman over his political stances, a local coffee shop chain has placed itself in severe legal jeopardy.

Democratic Representative Dan Goldman visited the Williamsburg branch of Poetica Coffee with his seven-year-old daughter. He purchased a $9.82 cup of coffee to show appreciation to a barista who had kindly let his daughter use the restroom. What initially began as a simple and cordial transaction quickly transformed into a high-profile civil rights probe.

A restroom stop triggers an online backlash

Shortly after the lawmaker left, the business shared a surveillance image of him on Instagram. The post mocked Goldman, asking if his coffee tasted like “genocide juice.” The caption went on to publicly declare him banned and announced a forced refund.

The cafe explicitly stated that its staff would have turned Goldman away immediately had they recognized him. It asserted that the establishment doesn’t serve “rac*sts, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between.” The post also claimed his money likely came from the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC before warning him never to return.

Goldman expressed profound disappointment over the online attack. He noted that the face-to-face interaction with the barista, who wore a hijab, had been exceptionally pleasant and respectful. The congressman publicly expressed hope that the employee still received the generous tip he had left for her.

The legal line between free speech and discrimination

Federal authorities intervened almost immediately to evaluate the legality of the ban. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced that the Civil Rights Division had opened an investigation. Dhillon warned that businesses face serious enforcement actions if they deny service based on identity.

“Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin,” Dhillon stated. The probe relies on Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects public access. The government will determine if the cafe targeted Goldman based on his Jewish heritage or national origin.

This investigation occurs amid a well-documented national rise in bias incidents. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in the United States reached a record high of 9,354 in 2024. This surge represents a 5% increase from the prior year and a massive tenfold jump over the past decade.

Furthermore, FBI statistics indicate that anti-Jewish hate crimes make up 69% of all religion-based offenses in the country. These alarming data points suggest that public retail spaces are increasingly becoming hostile political battlegrounds. This growing polarization places both business owners and everyday retail workers in highly vulnerable positions.

Comparing the Brooklyn ban to the Oakland cafe lawsuit

The Poetica Coffee probe closely mirrors a major federal civil rights case filed in California. In June 2025, the Justice Department sued the Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland. That litigation similarly accused a local business of illegally denying service to Jewish patrons.

A comparative analysis of these two incidents highlights how political protests can cross into civil rights violations.

In the Oakland case, the owner claimed the exclusion was a political protest against Zionism, not religious discrimination. However, the Justice Department maintained that denying service to individuals based on visible symbols of identity violates federal law. A federal judge’s decision to deny the cafe’s motion to dismiss in September 2025 established a strong precedent.

Legal experts note that while business owners have free speech, they do not have a license to exclude protected groups. This makes the Poetica investigation a major test case for how far businesses can go in response to political bans. The outcome of the probe could reshape how commercial spaces navigate global controversies.

Local primary politics and the campaign backdrop

The timing of the coffee shop controversy added fuel to a highly competitive primary race. Goldman faced an intense campaign from progressive Brad Lander in New York’s 10th Congressional District. 

Goldman’s strong support for Israel became a central flashpoint during the intense campaign. Lander, running to Goldman’s left, heavily criticized Goldman’s ties to AIPAC. Lander supports a blanket ban on military aid to Israel, contrasting with Goldman’s consistent votes for defense funding.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who assumed office in January 2026, endorsed Lander’s bid. Mamdani has been a vocal critic of Israel, which has roiled segments of the city’s large Jewish population. Despite political differences, Mamdani agreed that the coffee shop’s public stunt crossed the line.

“I have many political disagreements with Congressman Goldman,” Mayor Mamdani told reporters. “I think that what we saw online goes beyond that.” Lander also defended his opponent, calling Goldman’s response to the incident “extremely gracious.” Goldman himself was surprisingly cool-headed about the DOJ’s swift intervention. 

He remarked that he would rather the Justice Department spend its valuable resources elsewhere. “I would rather they spend their time and resources investigating antisemitism against people who do not have a platform that I do,” Goldman told CNN.

The harsh reality of business consequences

Beyond the looming federal investigation, Poetica Coffee is facing major operational troubles. The Washington Free Beacon revealed that the business owes New York State hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes. These financial issues complicate the chain’s standing as it struggles to keep its seven locations afloat.

Furthermore, state health records show consistent violations across the chain’s Brooklyn locations since 2023. Inspectors recently documented “filth flies” inside food prep areas and inadequate sewage disposal systems. The business also received citations for failing to properly store toxic chemicals and pesticides.

Following the social media backlash, the owner faced intense personal pressure. Parvis Mukhamadkulov, the Uzbek immigrant who owns the chain, deactivated his personal and business social media accounts. Mukhamadkulov reported receiving death threats and threats against his family, prompting contact with the NYPD.

The massive drop in Yelp ratings and public goodwill shows how fast a political stunt can backfire. Prior to the ban, the chain’s website claimed: “whoever walks through the door is treated with unconditional dignity.” The stark hypocrisy between their stated values and their actions has alienated a large portion of their customer base.

A quick sip of the situation

This situation proves that using a business as a political weapon is a highly dangerous game. When a coffee shop decides to ban a customer over political views, it risks violating federal civil rights laws. Public spaces must remain open to everyone, regardless of political, religious, or national identities.

Ultimately, blending retail operations with intense political polarization is a recipe for operational and legal disaster.

Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.

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