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Lawmakers face death threats over GOP conspiracies
Dec. 7, 2020: A few months after the FBI foiled a plot to kidnap
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, right-wing extremists are still
threatening Michigan elected officials. On Sunday, armed
protesters showed up outside Secretary of State Jocelyn
Benson’s house, where she lives with her husband and
4-year-old son, to harass her about baseless conspiracy
theories.
State Rep. Cynthia Johnson, who sits on the House Oversight Committee, has received
threatening messages and voicemails, including some that use
racial slurs and even say she should be lynched, in response to
her questioning of witnesses during last week’s meeting
featuring Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Other lawmakers
have also reported receiving threats of violence.
“To Jocelyn Benson, Cynthia Johnson, and all the other
lawmakers facing threats and harassment just for trying to do
your job, we want to extend our support and thanks for standing
up for our democracy. No one should face threats of violence,
racism or harassment like this,” said
Lonnie Scott, Executive Director of Progress Michigan.
“From
the plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer earlier this year to these
current threats of violence over baseless election conspiracies,
it’s become increasingly clear just how dangerous disinformation
is. Republicans’ decision to amplify false claims about our
elections isn’t just undemocratic—they’re also putting people’s
lives in danger.
“At this point, condemning threats of violence isn’t enough. It’s
time for Republican leaders to recognize the impact of their
words and actions and stop giving a platform to conspiracy
theorists, to finally ban guns at the Capitol and make clear
that bullying and threats of violence not be tolerated. Opposing
lies should not be a life or death issue.”
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