The Democratic Party's top lawyer attacked a top Democratic strategist for congratulating a colleague for getting a job in Republican President Donald Trump's Treasury Department.
Marc Elias, who was Hillary Clinton's campaign lawyer and has been the de facto lawyer for the Democrats for years, lashed out against Mo Elleithee on Tuesday night, accusing him of congratulating "those spreading propaganda for Trump."
"Mo, you know how much I like and respect you," wrote Elias. "Does your job really require you to congratulate those spreading propaganda for Trump?"
Elleithee's current job is executive director of a politics department at Georgetown University. His misstep, in the eyes of Elias, was congratulating Georgetown University politics fellow Tony Sayegh Jr. after it was announced that he had been named assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Treasury.
Mo, you know how much I like and respect you. Does your job really require you to congratulate those spreading propaganda for Trump? https://t.co/7LFaLQZcJL
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) March 8, 2017
Elleithee, a former spokesman for both Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee, responded by stating that though he doesn't agree with Sayegh's politics, he thinks he is a "great" fellow and "wishes him well in his service."
Marc, u know I'm no Trump supporter & I don't agree w/ Tony's politics. But he's a great @GUPolitics fellow & I wish him well in his service https://t.co/DfUZyb4avh
— Mo Elleithee (@MoElleithee) March 8, 2017
The explanation was not good enough for Elias, who went on to point out that while Sayegh may be a nice guy, he still "deserves no praise.
You are a friend, a great Democrat and 100% anti Trump. Tony may be a nice guy, but to be clear, he is going to do propaganda for Trump. https://t.co/sbHFYN6BLX
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) March 8, 2017
My point is only that people doing propaganda for Trump deserve no praise. When my alma matter tried to congrat Dubke, I said same thing. https://t.co/H74eJQcPwd
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) March 8, 2017
After the criticism from Elias began to spark outrage from others on Twitter towards Elleithee, Elias stepped in to say that Elleithee is "one of the true good guys" and that "no one should read" the question Elias asked "as doubting him."
Let's be clear--@MoElleithee is one of the true good guys. He has bled for the Dem party. No one should read my question as doubting him. https://t.co/CX43RChMfO
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) March 8, 2017
Elleithee accepted the semi-apology, stating that he also has "tremendous respect" for Elias.
The Twitter spat with Elias seems to have delayed Elleithee from watching the season premiere of FX's The Americans, which he didn't get to until 11:10 p.m.
Getting ready to watch season premier of @TheAmericansFX. Though to be honest, watching the news, I almost feel like last season never ended
— Mo Elleithee (@MoElleithee) March 8, 2017
He appears to have finished the episode about an hour later.
Holy smokes, @TheAmericansFX!
— Mo Elleithee (@MoElleithee) March 8, 2017