Elected officials across the United States are living in fear due to a surge in violent threats. A New York Times investigation found that between 2024 and August, thousands of threats targeted lawmakers and their families. Many officeholders said the situation is getting worse as they continue their public work.
In January, a caller began leaving threats in the voice mail inboxes of members of Congress: "I want to see their throat cut from ear to ear."
Another caller left a blunt threat for a U.S. senator: "I'm going to murder you, and I'm going to start with your children."
A state attorney general received this three-word missive: "Bang, bang, bang."
Serving in public office in the United States is dangerous. From state and local government to Congress, an unending river of violent threats is washing through the mailboxes, offices, voice mail and texts of those who govern the nation. Thousands of public servants are living, working and, in the final weeks of election season, campaigning in a state of fear.
And it's getting worse, officeholders said in dozens of interviews.
An investigation by The New York Times examining hundreds of records obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, court documents and law enforcement logs has found that, over a two-year period from 2024 to August of this year, thousands of violent threats inundated the lives of elected officials in unprecedented ways.
Some threats were vague; some were frighteningly specific. They promised torture, stabbing, rape and murder. They aimed at Republicans and Democrats alike, and at a range of officeholders from county clerks to United States senators. They targeted spouses, parents, siblings and children.
At least 44 governors, as well as their staff and families, have been subjected to violent threats over the past two years, The Times's investigation found. That's also true of at least 70 of the nation's 100 senators, and at least 185 members of the House of Representatives -- nearly half the body. More than half of the country's secretaries of state, most of whom serve as their states' chief election officers, have received threats of violence.