According to U.S. Capitol Police threats against Congressmen have more than doubled in 2017
Friday’s brutal home invasion attackThe latest attack on congressional members is directed at Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker. San Francisco authorities claim that the suspect demanded to know whereabouts of Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.
On Monday, David DePape, 42, was charged with one count of “attempted kidnapping of a US official on account of the performance of official duties,” according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.
According to the office, Paul Pelosi’s alleged attacker was also charged federally with assault.
According to Capitol police figures in 2017, there were 3,939 threats against members of Congress.
This number was almost tripled by 2021 to 9,625. During that span, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became one of the most targeted members of Congress, The New York Timesreported.
Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins was also threatened when she voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a senator or House member were killed,” she told The Times. “What started with abusive phone calls is now translating into active threats of violence and real violence.”
This was evident in the Jan. 6 riots. Protesters storming the Capitol were shouting at Pelosi and threatening to kill her. A number of Capitol police officers were also injured in the attacks, and four were later shot to death.