Representative Eric Swalwell had the photoshopped image walked over to her.

The Trump administration just became so much more Orwellian.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command,” George Orwell wrote in his cautionary tale about totalitarianism, 1984.

On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took that command a step further, refusing to even acknowledge a doctored photo depicting alleged gang tattoos on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s knuckles, which the White House has repeatedly used to justify his deportation.

In a heated back-and-forth with Representative Eric Swalwell during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Noem repeatedly swerved away from answering direct questions about the photo, which was displayed on a massive poster board behind the California lawmaker.

  • ToastedRavioli@midwest.social
    185·
    1 day ago

    Gang members dont want to give themselves away. So instead of throwing overt and specific signs, you have to look for covert gang signs such as the friendly wave, peace signs, or rock n roll 🤘

    • BigFig@lemmy.worldEnglish
      15·
      1 day ago

      MS-13 does not use covert tattoos, they are VERY open about their membership tattoos because it signifies ownership of that person by the group.

      • ToastedRavioli@midwest.social
        151·
        1 day ago

        I thought I was being blatantly sarcastic, but apparently not.

        To be quite frank Im not aware of any gangs that dont have like 10 different distinct visual ways to identify themselves. Be it colors, tattoos, signs, etc.

        Hiding gang affiliation is a bit of a “bitch move” I would think from a gangbanger perspective

    • RedditIsDeddit@lemmy.world
      31·
      1 day ago

      this is bullshit tons of gangs have very blatant tattoos to identify themselves as gang members it’s part of the culture of gang life and has been forever. MS-13 in particular shows off their exact name in the “ms- 13” symbol and you can Google this and see thousands of pictures of MS-13 members with those exact tattoos all over their faces in the next and everywhere else

        • Batman@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          3·
          18 hours ago

          Well, I chuckled when I reached the end of your comment. …and then a bit more at that exchange over not getting it.

          Then, woke my dog and spooked a cat with the snort-honk sound or whatever that was I just did, seeing a second one AND downvotes over folks not getting it. Even with you explaining it. Wowza.

          I appreciate ya! I need these random smiles amongst the heavy news.