Threats against Members of Congress

Threats against Members of Congress

Since the remarkable level of violent rhetoric around the 2016 presidential election, recorded threats against members of Congress have escalated more than tenfold to 9,625 in 2021. Some threats were online, some by telephone, some in person (for example, cruising through a Congressperson’s neighborhood yelling obscenities). The greatest number of threats has been against three Democrats: Nancy Pelosi (CA), Speaker of the House, and two members of the Progressive Caucus, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) and Ilhan Omar (MN). Other top targets include Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Liz Cheney (R-WY), Cory Bush (D-MO). Note that these are all women. Also, threats are particularly acute against lawmakers of color. The Capitol Police are charged with protecting members of Congress, but members have often had to pay out of their own funds for extra security. The biggest spender on security is a Black senator from Georgia, Raphael Warnock: he has spent over $900,000 since 2021. The level of political discourse has deteriorated since 2016 and we must anticipate further deterioration around the midterm elections of 2022. One has to admire members of Congress who continue to do their work despite the threats.

(SOURCE: The New York Times 10/2/2022)