Alan Dershowitz told Newsmax he intends to sue a New York City coffee shop that banned Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., due to his support for Israel.
Appearing Tuesday on "The Record With Greta Van Susteren," the Harvard Law School professor emeritus blasted Brooklyn-based Poetica Coffee after the business publicly declared Goldman unwelcome and refunded a purchase he made during a visit with his daughter.
The controversy has already drawn federal attention.
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division announced that it has opened an investigation into whether Poetica Coffee violated federal anti-discrimination laws after publicly stating it would have refused service to Goldman because of his support for Israel.
"Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon wrote on X in announcing the probe.
Dershowitz argued the incident reflects a broader rise in anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment.
"I think that's the way it has to be in New York," Dershowitz told Van Susteren. "If Dan Goldman can't have the coffee from the shop, nobody should.
"The Justice Department should shut it down. It should be boycotted," he added.
The dispute began after Poetica Coffee posted a message on social media mocking Goldman and declaring that he would have been turned away had employees recognized him.
The post accused the Jewish congressman of enabling "genocide" through his support for Israel and suggested his money came from the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC.
Goldman later described his interaction with a barista as friendly and said the episode was "sad," urging Americans to seek common ground rather than deepen divisions.
Dershowitz compared the incident to his own experience last year at a Martha's Vineyard food stand that refused to serve him because of his political views and legal work.
He said he successfully pressured market officials to adopt a policy requiring vendors to serve all customers.
Now, he plans to pursue legal action against the New York coffee shop.
"The law of New York prohibits discrimination based on invidious characteristics, including religion," Dershowitz said. "Obviously this is based in part on religion, because Zionism is part of the Jewish religion."
The longtime constitutional scholar also criticized Democrat leaders for what he described as a failure to confront rising antisemitism.
"This is a horrible situation," Dershowitz said. "If it could happen to New York, it can happen anywhere."
The DOJ has not indicated when its investigation may conclude, and Poetica Coffee has not publicly responded to the federal inquiry.
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