Watch: Viral Rant Brings New Attention to Death of Green Beret

Yesterday, a cellphone video depicting an anti-Semitic rant went viral. The woman shown in the video is Leslie Socolov, an ex-Miami-Dade Police Department employee. Mainstream media quickly churned out articles detailing the woman’s verbal assault.

“Move your f—ing car, you stupid Jew,” she screamed in the video, reported the Washington Post. “Just because you’re Jewish and a Democrat doesn’t give you the right to stay there. Move it.”

Vulgar language warning ⚠️ – a @MiamiDadePD homicide employee was caught on video in an INSANE antisemitic rant over a parking situation.

“Move your f*cking car you stupid Jew … just because you’re Jewish and a Democrat doesn’t give you the right to stay there” pic.twitter.com/qD3wyU1mrK

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) February 3, 2021

The Post article went on to say that “during the confrontation, Leslie Socolov, 64, allegedly returned to her Prius and rammed into the SUV with her car, the other driver told police.”

The Miami Herald interviewed Socolov after the incident, reporting that she was unapologetic about her actions; “Oh well, f— them. Democrats,” she said to a reporter from the Herald.

Vulgar language warning ⚠️ – a @MiamiDadePD homicide employee was caught on video in an INSANE antisemitic rant over a parking situation.

“Move your f*cking car you stupid Jew … just because you’re Jewish and a Democrat doesn’t give you the right to stay there” pic.twitter.com/qD3wyU1mrK

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) February 3, 2021

The Post article went on to say that “during the confrontation, Leslie Socolov, 64, allegedly returned to her Prius and rammed into the SUV with her car, the other driver told police.”

The Miami Herald interviewed Socolov after the incident, reporting that she was unapologetic about her actions; “Oh well, f— them. Democrats,” she said to a reporter from the Herald.

Socolov is now saying she is being “persecuted.”

But the media missed the big picture: Socolov is clearly a disturbed woman who should be held accountable for killing decorated Green Beret Richard Flaherty in a 2015 hit-and-run accident in Miami.

In 2015, Socolov left work and drove home, apparently under the influence. On her way home, she struck a pedestrian and left the scene without calling the police or reporting the incident. She did manage to call her insurance agency, though.

The pedestrian was former Green Beret Richard Flaherty. Flaherty, 4′ 9″, who had the distinction of being the smallest person to have ever served in the special operations, did two tours with U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam. During his time in uniform, he was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts.

After his service in the Army, Flaherty joined the CIA. He worked in South America in support of the Nicaraguan Contras. Flaherty eventually worked undercover for the ATF in an effort to stop the flow of cocaine and weapons in the Fort Bragg, NC area. But a failed relationship, an assortment of jobs, and later the death of a fiancé devastated him and eventually left him homeless, living on the streets of Miami.

Flaherty was known by many in the Miami area where he resided, including many police officers and first responders. One such officer was David Yuzuk. Yuzuk and Flaherty grew close through an unlikely friendship that lasted more than 15 years.

It was only after Flaherty’s death that Yuzuk discovered his complete history — including his service as a Green Beret and with the CIA — by cleaning out a storage unit that belonged to him.

Moved by his story and by their friendship, Yuzuk began investigating the circumstances of Flaherty’s death. In the end, Yuzuk’s detective work led him to one conclusion: Leslie Socolov was under the influence that night and struck Flaherty with her car. She left Flaherty to die alone on a nondescript piece of pavement. Curiously, Socolov was never arrested or charged.

The video below shows a portion of Yuzuk’s investigative documentary about Flaherty and his death.

“She is obviously a very damaged, compromised, and sad human being,” Yuzuk said in an email to SOFREP. “But she’s also a dangerous and reckless human being.”

“My only hope at this point, with this recent Socolov incident, is hopefully [that] it might get Florida legislature to re-examine all the legal loopholes that are available for hit and run drivers to exploit and avoid charges.”

But, he concluded, “her finally being brought to justice doesn’t bring my friend back.”

While the mainstream is falling over themselves to label Leslie Socolov as just another crazed “Karen” showing her true colors in a fit of rage, we at SOFREP hope that it brings more attention to her role in the death of Flaherty.

What’s more, now that the Miami-Dade Police has condemned Socolov for her outburst, we hope that they’ll re-examine the death of a decorated war hero.

As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.

One team, one fight,
Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief

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