Threat Against Lawmakers Surge.
From The New York Times via Yahoo News:
One Menacing Call After Another.
It may not be a new problem, but we know who has exacerbated it.
"Threats against members of Congress jumped more than fourfold after Trump took office. In 2016, the Capitol Police investigated 902 threats; the following year, that number reached 3,939.
The threats range from phone calls with gruesome, specific descriptions of violence that have led to jail time for the callers to broad threats posted on social media for which juries have, on occasion, acquitted those charged."
This point is both infuriating and chilling:
"In several cases, defense lawyers have taken to arguing that their client should not be punished for comments that were consistent with what elected officials and political pundits have said. Several rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 have employed similar 'Trump made me do it' defenses."
Threats of physical violence against other people are wrong, of course. But in a system that permits free speech, the right to protest and the opportunity to vote, the people making these threats demonstrate their lack of commitment to our democracy. If things don't break your way politically, work harder and smarter for the next round, like Stacey Abrams. Pouting, blustering, threatening and assaulting people who oppose you is the Trump method.
