The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into a cafe in Brooklyn, New York, after the business publicly stated it would have refused service to a Jewish member of Congress because of his political views and support for Israel, a senior department official announced Monday.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said federal authorities are examining whether the actions of Poetica Coffee, which has several locations in New York City, violated federal anti-discrimination laws governing public accommodation.

"Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin," Dhillon wrote on social media.

"These actions are not only reprehensible, they're potentially illegal. The Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation, and will bring an enforcement action if warranted."

The investigation follows a social media post by Poetica Coffee directed at Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., a Jewish lawmaker who has been a vocal supporter of Israel.

"Hey Congressman Dan Goldman, we see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee. Do you see how it doesn't taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference?" the post said.

The cafe continued: "See, here at Poetica, we don't serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between. Too bad we didn't recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away. We issued you a refund — we don't need your money (it's probably coming from AIPAC anyways). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don't ever come to Poetica."

According to reports, Goldman visited the business with his daughter and later received a refund for the purchase. Poetica Coffee subsequently declared that he was no longer welcome at its locations.

Goldman told CNN he had a cordial interaction with staff in the cafe and described the episode as "sad," while also saying the Department of Justice should focus its resources on investigating antisemitism affecting people who lack a public platform.

The dispute comes amid heightened tensions nationwide stemming from the Israel-Hamas war, which has fueled protests, boycotts, campus demonstrations, and political clashes over U.S. support for Israel. Allegations of antisemitism and anti-Muslim discrimination have drawn increased scrutiny from federal authorities, advocacy groups, and elected officials.

DOJ's Civil Rights Division enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origin in places of public accommodation. Under Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, businesses that serve the public generally may not deny service on those grounds.

Legal experts have noted that political affiliation itself is not a protected class under federal public accommodation law. Nevertheless, federal investigators are expected to examine whether the cafe's statements and actions amounted to unlawful discrimination based on religion or another protected characteristic.

The Department of Justice has not provided a timeline for the investigation or indicated whether it expects to pursue civil enforcement action. Poetica Coffee has not publicly responded to the federal inquiry.