Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has publicly criticized the arrest of British comedian Graham Linehan, particularly in the context of transgender issues.
Lawmakers from Silicon Valley described the arrest as “a crime against those who support freedom of speech.”
“I don’t think the UK has learned much from the old days, like when Oscar Wilde was convicted for readings from Dorian Gray,” Khanna remarked.
Linehan, who co-created popular British shows like Father Ted and The IT Crowd, reported being met by five armed police officers upon landing at Heathrow. He was informed he had been arrested for three tweets.
“In a country grappling with issues like knife crime and violence against women, the state prioritized sending armed officers to arrest comedy writers for their tweets,” Linehan expressed in a statement.
Known for his controversial views on transgender women, Linehan pointed out some of his posts on social media concerning police questioning. He mentioned an extreme scenario, suggesting that if a trans-identified man enters a women’s space, it warrants immediate action.
The London Metropolitan Police did not name Linehan but stated that “a man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of inciting violence,” linking it to his posts.
This incident has sparked considerable international criticism, coinciding with planned reforms by British leader Nigel Farage during a House Judiciary Committee hearing focused on free speech.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) remarked that the hearing would highlight how Europe’s online censorship regulations, such as the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act, pose threats to free speech in the U.S.
Farage intends to address the Linehan case during his testimony, emphasizing, “The Graham Linehan incident exemplifies the ongoing battle for free speech in Britain, and I’ll also discuss the Lucy Connolly situation and the growing involvement of police in non-criminal ‘hate’ incidents.”
