Violent threats against Congress members surged early 2025

A new report has highlighted a significant increase in violent threats against members of Congress. This spike occurred during the confirmation process of controversial cabinet nominees from former President Donald Trump, including Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard. The US Capitol Police provided this information in response to a public records request. In January, there were 42 reported threats against lawmakers, followed by 33 in February. In the same months the previous year, there were only 16 and 17 threats, respectively. These unsettling figures suggest a troubling trend as lawmakers faced pressure from Trump and his supporters. Senator Joni Ernst received numerous threatening messages while considering Hegseth’s nomination. Reports indicate that some threats even reached her family. Meanwhile, journalists who reported on the situation also faced death threats, leading to increased security measures for them. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand criticized the environment of intimidation. She noted that it affected Republican senators' decisions on confirmations, stating that the threats issued by Trump's supporters were aggressive and nasty. The report raises questions about whether the Justice Department will take action against these threats. Some suggest that pressing charges could help deter such behavior in the future. However, concerns remain about the independence of the Justice Department under Trump's influence.