U.S. attorney's derogatory Facebook comments under scrutiny

BEAUMONT, Texas, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A federal prosecutor in Texas said he will look into online posts in which an assistant prosecutor makes derogatory comments about President Barack Obama.

John Craft, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas in the criminal division in Beaumont, said on his personal Facebook page "low information voters carried the day for the Dalibama in the last election" and posted a graphic that said: "Obama: Why Stupid People Shouldn't Vote."

He referred to the 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., and the second-degree murder trial in which neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was acquitted, the Houston Chronicle reported.

"How are you fixed for Skittles and Arizona watermelon fruitcocktail (and maybe a bottle of Robitussin, too) in your neighborhood?," Craft wrote. "I am fresh out of 'purple drank.' So, I may come by for a visit. In a rainstorm. In the middle of the night. In a hoodie. Don't get upset or anything if you see me looking in your window ... kay?"

Zimmerman killed Martin during a confrontation as Martin was returning to his father's house after buying Skittles and an Arizona drink at a convenience store. He was wearing a hoodie at the time, and the debate over his death has focused to some degree on whether wearing hoodies places young black men at risk.

Craft told the newspaper Monday his comments "were not related to the U.S. Attorney's Office."

John Bates, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, said his office does not have a social media policy, but he said discriminatory sentiments are "reprehensible."

"It speaks ill of our office in connection," Bales said. "We don't think like that. We don't act like that."