(CNSNews.com) – The Department of Justice, on behalf of
the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS), has threatened to criminally prosecute a novelty store owner for selling
mugs and t-shirts that say, among other things, “Department of Homeland
Stupidity” and “The NSA: The only part of government that actually listens.”
The novelty items are sold online at Zazzle.com, which is operated by merchant Dan
McCall. The NSA and DHS sent “cease and desist” letters to
Zazzle stating that the parody products violate statutes that protect their
official seals from misuse.
The NSA and DHS, through the Department of Justice, are
“threatening litigation and criminal prosecution if the parody designs weren’t
immediately removed,” reported the government watchdog group Judicial
Watch.
While the parody products, such as “NSA: Spying on you since
1952,” have been removed from Zazzle’s website, a federal complaint has been
filed by Dan McCall against the DHS and NSA, claiming that the cease and desist
directives violate his First Amendment rights.