The violent attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband comes just a week before the US midterm elections – a moment when political tensions are running high.
As if to emphasize the point, hours after the news of the attack on Paul Pelosi on Friday, the US government distributed a bulletin to law enforcement agencies across the country. It warned of an “increased risk” of home-grown violent extremism against candidates and campaigners driven by individuals with “ideological grievances”.
Also Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that a Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to making multiple phone death threats against an unnamed congressman — reported by California Democrat Eric It’s Seoul. The threats included telling a staff member in the congressman’s Washington office that he was going to come to the US Capitol with a firearm.
These laments of an endangered political system come as Republicans and Democrats prepare for the upcoming midterm voting, which will determine which party controls Congress next year. It is a pivotal moment in American history.
Republicans have warned that this is their last chance to keep an eye on Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency. Democrats say American democracy itself is at risk because of several Republican candidates refusing to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election.
And the rhetoric comes at the culmination of what has been a steady drumbeat of violence — and violent threats — that have been building all year.
Death Threats
In Arizona, there have been multiple reports of masked men with firearms tossing out ballot drop boxes, apparently to monitor voter fraud sites. They have posted pictures of people voting on right-wing social media sites and encouraged others to join their efforts.
In June, a man was arrested near the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Cavanaugh. He had traveled from California to the Washington suburbs and upon arrival called police and told them he had a firearm and intended to kill the conservative justice.
The following month, Lee Zeldon, the Republican candidate for governor, was attacked on stage during a campaign rally. Congresswoman Pramila Jaipaul, a liberal leader of the Democratic Party, was threatened outside her Seattle home by a man with a handgun. He was then charged with aggravated stalking.
