Dem Rep. Josh Riley quietly invested in DC distillery that sells ‘Fascist Tears Vodka’ and likes ‘ICE Crushed’

WASHINGTON — Freshman Democratic Rep. Josh Riley has racked up shares in a “women-owned, queer-led” DC-based distillery that sells left-wing branded liquor such as Fascist Tears Vodka and Dissent Gin — and prides itself on preferring “ICE crushed.”

While it’s not clear when Riley invested in the distillery, the 44-year-old has ties to its co-founder, Pia Carusone, a veteran Democratic operative who helped craft ads for his two congressional campaigns.

Riley, whose sprawling district includes the cities of Binghamton, Catskill, Hudson, Ithaca, and Monticello, holds between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of shares in Carusone’s Republic Restoratives LLC, according to his most recent financial disclosures.

The revelations about Riley’s investment in the in-your-face, politically charged spirit slinger come amid a spate of violence targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and conservative political figures such as activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated Sept. 10 by a suspect who engraved the phrase “Hey fascist! Catch” on one of his unfired bullet casings.

On Wednesday, a sniper opened fire on an ICE facility in Dallas, killing one detainee and wounding two others before taking his own life. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, had scrawled the words “Anti ICE” on his ammo, according to the FBI.

Republic Restoratives Distillery is nestled in northeast DC about three miles from the White House, and has cultivated a niche following — particularly among lefty Beltway operatives.

“This isn’t just a cocktail bundle. It’s a statement. A middle finger to every billionaire-funded politician trying to control what you can say, do, or drink,” reads one description of a “spirit pack” offering Fascist Tears vodka, Dissent gin and Assembly gin for $159.

Carusone — who served as chief of staff to then-Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) when the legislator was shot and seriously wounded in a 2011 assassination attempt — co-founded the distillery in 2016 with her longtime friend Rachel Gardner, hailing it as the “largest crowdfunded distillery in US history.”

In addition to the politically-charged branding, proceeds from liquor sales are used to boost left-wing causes.

For example, money from the sale of Dissent Gin goes to the National Network of Abortion Funds, which helps lower-income women terminate their pregnancies.

Civic Pride vodka sales fund Advocates for Trans Equality.

The distillery’s most eye-catching product, Fascist Tears Vodka, bears branding reminiscent of conservative broadcaster Ben Shapiro’s “Leftist Tears” paraphernalia, with proceeds going to Vote.org.

Republic Restoratives also offers “Fascist Tears” T-shirts and mugs, and one advertisement for the spirit declares that “We Prefer Our ICE Crushed,” in a clear nod to left-wing hatred for the border agency.

Earlier this month, the distillery shouted out California Gov. Gavin Newsom after his press office posted an AI-generated clip of the Democrat imbibing “MAGA Tears” branded alcohol.

Other products include Madam whiskey, with a picture of former Vice President Kamala Harris on the label, and Rodham Rye — a nod to Hillary Clinton.

On April 1 of this year, the distillery mused about creating Gulf of Mexico Tequila in a rebuke of Trump’s renaming of the body of water to the Gulf of America.

“Last year on April Fools’ Day, we posted a fake bottle called Fascist Tears,” the Republic Restoratives Facebook page wrote. “You flooded the comments. So we made it real.”

The Post reached out to Riley’s team and Carusone for comment.