In June, Rep. Devin Nunes sued Twitter, as well as three individual Twitter accounts, for defamation. The complaint, which asked for $250,000,000 in damages and $350,000 in punitive damages, argued that, “As part of its agenda to squelch Nunes’ voice, cause him extreme pain and suffering, influence the 2018 Congressional election, and distract, intimidate and interfere with Nunes’ investigation into corruption and Russian involvement in the 2016 Presidential Election, Twitter did absolutely nothing.” What were these disparaging and defaming accounts, attacking Nunes in such a way as to warrant this lawsuit? They were Devin Nunes’ Mom (@DevinNunesMom) and Devin Nunes’ Cow (@DevinCow).
That’s right: one account purporting to be owned by Devin Nunes’ cow and one purporting to be owned by Devin Nunes’ mom. Well, the owner of these accounts has filed his own legal papers in hopes of squashing Nunes’ lawsuit. The Sacramento Bee reported on the filing, noting that it argues, for one, that “No reasonable person would believe that Devin Nunes’ cow actually has a Twitter account, or that the hyperbole, satire and cow-related jokes it posts are serious facts.” It also says that no sentient person would believe that one of Devin Nunes’ actual cows would have and be able to use a Twitter account, since “It is self-evident that cows are domesticated livestock animals and do not have the intelligence, language, or opposable digits needed to operate a Twitter account.”
Adam Parkhomenko, who owns the account, submitted the filing, and the details are as hilarious as you might expect. The filing makes some salient points:
- The satirical account frequently uses very obvious pun language, such as, “Devin is whey over his head” and “it’s pasture time to move him to prison.”
- Parkhomenko’s attorney also cites “rhetorical hyperbole,” covered by the First Amendment, such as “treasonous cowpoke” and “Director of Butt Licking.”
And so a hashtag was born: #DirectorOfButtLicking. And it has gone viral.
I was trying to figure out why #DirectorOfButtLicking was trending… and then I realized… Oh @DevinNunes is in the news….
— Travis Bone (@TheRealTBone) November 27, 2019
And it took off like wildfire.
Oh no… #DirectorOfButtLicking is now the #3 trending hashtag.
You are going to ruin @DevinNunes' day if you continue to tweet #DirectorOfButtLicking.
So please, definitely don't tweet #DirectorOfButtLicking. https://t.co/BVvNgbK2Qq
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) November 27, 2019
But there were people who did have questions about the legitimacy of the title.
You see, @DevinNunes doesn't like it when people call him #DirectorOfButtLicking because he is actually #SecretaryofButtLicking –it's a cabinet level position. https://t.co/9CxHNz43Sc
— Anastasia Krupnik (@Shereste) November 27, 2019
Lest we forget how much people like Rep. Devin Nunes deserve this public reviling:
A patriotic reminder from our esteemed and not hyper-partisan talking-heads about doing the right thing…#WednesdayWisdom #TrumpCrimeSyndicate #DirectorOfButtLicking pic.twitter.com/y3VNfUD28y
— KH (@labboypro) November 27, 2019
So very true.
This is truly awful. @DevinNunes absolutely does not deserve to be smeared as #DirectorOfButtLicking. Please stop calling @DevinNunes the #DirectorOfButtLicking.
Just unconscionable, people. Have some class. https://t.co/UXS2UcPaTL
— ???????????? ℍ???????????????????????? ???????? ℂ???????????????? ℙ???????????????????????? (@thocpodcast) November 27, 2019
Just to clarify – did you say DO use #DirectorOfButtLicking or did you say DO NOT use #DirectorOfButtLicking? Just so I'm clear on whether or not I'm supposed to use #DirectorOfButtLicking.
— Elaine Sowersby #Kamala2020 (@ElaineSowersby) November 27, 2019
Was Gym Jordan demoted from #DirectorOfButtLicking ? Go Nooney Tunes! @DevinNunes
— Kristin ZBGW (@KZalibutters) November 27, 2019
But in the end, Devin Nunes is not simply a joke. He’s also an awful person.
The #DirectorOfButtLicking must resign. #NunesResign projected in Alameda. pic.twitter.com/7kDOX2jWSa
— ÆMarling (@AEMarling) November 27, 2019
And he isn’t the only one.
If @DevinNunes isn't the acting #DirectorOfButtLicking does that mean Jim Jordan or @LindseyGrahamSC are assuming the position? https://t.co/S86J6xM7DH
— ????????RoB???????????? (@RobLadd8) November 27, 2019
— Neal Rauhauser (@nrauhauser) November 26, 2019
This is a Creative Commons article. The original version of this article appeared here.
I certainly hope that the people in his district will cheer the “dicktater of buttlicking” everywhere he goes, that’ll put him in the holiday spirit, ” whey”to go.