Several Madison and Wisconsin lawmakers were threatened in an unidentified post on Craigslist this week during a time which awareness of such threats is at a heightened state and lawmakers and their aides are being more vigilant and attentive to such rhetoric. The threats come only a handful of days after U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) was critically wounded and six others were killed by suspected gunman Jared Loughner, 22, outside of a Safeway in Tucson, Arizona during a political event.
Six Republican lawmakers named in threat
Although the details of the post, including the exact wording of the threat and the source of the post, are not being shared by law enforcement officials, according to a source familiar with the investigation, the threat was credible enough to warrant demonstrating that those named in the post were taking it seriously. The online threat targeted six Wisconsin politicians: Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Sen. Ron Johnson, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, state Sen. Leah Vukmir, and state Sen. Alberta Darling. All named in the threat are Republican lawmakers.
In response to the threat, Johnson released a statement that was published on The New American. According to the statement, Johnson wrote, “The FBI, Winnebago County Sheriff's Department, Oshkosh Police Department, and United States Capitol Police are working diligently to investigate this matter. I have complete confidence that they will do their jobs to the fullest extent.” Johnson, who defeated three-term Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold on Nov. 2 for his United States Senate seat, was heavily backed by the Tea Party movement.
Although reports of threats on politicians are unfortunately a semi-regular occurrence, this is the first time that state Sen. Darling has received such a threat in her 21-year career as a lawmaker. Darling, who is the co-chairwoman of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, acknowledged that her security protocol is being revised in response to the threat, but that it wouldn’t deter her from doing her job the way she feels is best. As published on JSOnline, Darling said, “I'm not going to let somebody ruin my life by fear."
National anxiety and finger pointing
Unconfirmed reports abound that the posting was made by a Democratic supporter angry at the Republican party for, as the theory goes, creating a culture of inflammatory rhetoric which led to the mass shooting in Arizona one week ago today. Debate has been raging since the shooting on myriad topics, including the use of harsh and threatening rhetoric in the political arena, gun control, mental health interventions, and the proper way to parent troubled children.
President Barack Obama traveled to Tucson on Jan. 12 to deliver a speech at the University of Arizona (please see video) to both remember the victims of the attack and make a call for peace amongst lawmakers pointing fingers at members across both sides of the aisle. It was hoped that Obama’s message might restore calm and prevent the flurry of accusations from lawmakers, pundits, and political analysts from reaching a fever pitch until more information is brought to light.
In response to the threat posted on Craigslist, Wisconsin State Senate Clerk Robert Marchant sent a memo to Capitol offices urging lawmakers and staff to remain vigilant and monitor online postings for threats made against them or their colleagues. An investigation by the FBI, Capitol Police, and local law enforcement in regards to the online threat is ongoing, although sources familiar with the situation refuse to speak on record on the matter.
To read Marchant's memo, please click here.
State Sen. Vukmir acknowledged that security procedures have been enhanced since the discovery of the online threat. As published on JSOnline, she said, “There are some things we'll be doing differently, but I'm not at liberty to say how because that would defeat the whole purpose.” Vukmir was elected to the state Senate on Nov. 2 after having served eight years in the state Assembly.
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