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The threats against members of Congress who voted for
health care reform have turned from a nuisance to a serious law enforcement
issue, increasing security concerns as lawmakers prepare to head home for
spring recess.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Capitol Police and the House
sergeant at arms on Wednesday were brought into a closed-door Democratic
Caucus meeting, during which lawmakers expressed fear for their safety and
the safety of their families.
The Capitol Police, according to several in the caucus meeting, encouraged
members to report any incidents to the department. They also offered security
assessments of district offices and even members’ homes.
One Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Phil Hare of Illinois, said he knows several
Democrats who have told their spouses to move out of the home districts while
the lawmakers are in Washington.
“If this doesn’t get under control in short time, heaven forbid,
someone will get hurt,” Hare said.
And House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland told reporters after a
caucus meeting that members who feel in danger would “get attention
from the proper authorities.”
Hare is holding eight town hall meetings in his district over the recess and
requested that the Capitol Police coordinate with his local police department
to provide security. His wife has pleaded with him to cancel the events.
“My wife is home alone, and I’m worried for her,” he said.
“I am about to have my first grandchild. I don’t want to have to
be worried.”
Incidents are sprouting up all over the country.
The gas lines were cut at the house of Virginia Democratic Rep. Thomas
Perriello’s brother, near Charlottesville, Va., prompting an FBI
investigation. Local police are making routine checks of the home. A tea
party activist from southern Virginia posted online the address of
Perriello’s brother, thinking it was the lawmaker’s.
Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio) had his address posted on the Internet, with a
message from a right-wing blogger asking people to show up at
Driehaus’s Cincinnati “mansion” to protest his health care
vote. A photo of Driehaus’s family appeared in a Cincinnati newspaper
ad urging the lawmaker to vote against the health care bill last week.
A brick was thrown through the window of the Democratic Party’s
Cincinnati office.
And Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who negotiated the breakthrough on abortion
language in the health care bill, has received numerous death threats and
faxes with violent images at his office.
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) suggested to Democrats in the
closed-door meeting that they should coordinate an internal security plan
— as he did in August.
Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) told the caucus, according to a member present,
that he feared what was going on in the districts.
Democrats have been quick to blame Republicans for not tamping down the
atmosphere. But on Tuesday at the National Republican Congressional Committee
dinner, House Minority Leader John Boehner decried the violence.
Boehner met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday but
declined to discuss what they spoke about.
“I know many Americans are angry over this health care bill and that
Washington Democrats just aren’t listening,” Boehner wrote in an
e-mailed statement. “But, as I’ve said, violence and threats are
unacceptable. That’s not the American way. We need to take that anger
and channel it into positive change. Call your congressman, go out and
register people to vote, go volunteer on a political campaign, make your
voice heard — but let’s do it the right way.”
Hare said Boehner needs to come to the floor and decry the violence and
apologize to Driehaus for calling the Democratic lawmaker a “dead
man.” Hare said he thinks Republicans’ riling up of protesters
from the Capitol balcony is not helpful.
“If he can’t control his members, they have to find someone who
can,” Hare said.
Some members have directly confronted protesters.
Rep. Jim Moran, a fiery Virginia Democrat, got a visit from tea party activists
at his office earlier this week. Aides got between the burly lawmaker and the
activists. The activists, according to the congressman, asked whether he
needed “bodyguards” to protect him.
“We’re not protecting him from you,” the aides said,
according to Moran. “We’re protecting you from him.”
It was long known that the health care overhaul vote would be brutal for
members of Congress. August brought raucous town halls, folks with guns and
heated exchanges to towns across the nation.
Now that the legislation has passed with just Democratic votes, anger is
bubbling nationwide.
Hoyer, in response to a question from a reporter, said he thinks members are
in danger.
“Yes,” he said, standing next to House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn
of South Carolina. “I think that we have very serious incidents that
have occurred over the last 48, 72 hours.”
Jonathan Allen contributed to this report.
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