Federal law enforcement officials are looking into at least two possible threats directed at members of Congress and their families that Democrats suggest are related to their vote for health care reform.
More than 10 lawmakers have complained
they’ve received threats since the House voted Sunday on a health insurance overhaul, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Wednesday, and law enforcement officials are taking the allegations seriously.
Federal law enforcement officials are looking into at least two possible threats directed at members of Congress and their families that Democrats suggest are related to their vote for health care reform.
“The incidents of threats whether in person or through telephones or through other communication devices, have given great concern to members, for the safety of themselves and their families,” Hoyer told reporters.
“Clearly our democracy is about participation. Our democracy is about differing and debate, and animated debate and passionate debate — but it is not about violence,” he added. “It is about making sure that everybody in America feels free to express their opinion … without subjecting themselves their family or others to behavior, and frankly criminal behavior, in some respects, that undermines our democracy.”
House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., said Wednesday the FBI is investigating recent vandalism at her office in Niagara Falls, adding the incident was “a dreadful thing.”
“The man doing it said it was because it will prevent civil war,” Slaughter said.
The New York lawmaker said she was not concerned about threats to her other offices because they all have security guards.
But Slaughter said she thought it was part of a pattern.
A spokesman at the FBI’s Richmond field office confirmed to Fox News that the FBI has visited the home of Rep. Tom Perriello’s brother, following a report that a propane gas line was found cut.
Perriello’s office confirmed that a line to a propane tank on a gas grill was cut at Bo Periello’s Charlottesville home on Tuesday. Tea Party activists had posted the address online thinking it was the congressman’s home, telling opponents to drop by and “express their thanks” for his vote.
FBI spokesman Mo Myers would not confirm whether an official investigation is underway, but said the FBI is working with local authorities. He said no one was hurt in the incident at Perriello’s brother’s home.
The complaints have escalated since Democratic lawmakers said they were accosted over the weekend by protesters on Capitol Hill in the run-up to Sunday’s vote.
Several black lawmakers said that as they were walking by protesters Saturday on their way to a procedural vote on Capitol Hill, a group of demonstrators shouted at them and called them the n-word.
“They were just shouting, harassing,” Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., said.
In addition, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a black congressman from Missouri, said he was spit on by someone in the crowd who was later detained.
Tea Party protesters, though, dispute those accounts, saying they never heard racially charged language in the crowd. The man detained for allegedly spitting at Cleaver was also let go after, according to Capitol Police, Cleaver was unable to positively identify him.
Cleaver’s office said the congressman chose not to press charges.
