Security concerns mount in Congress after Kirk shooting
'Multiple members are getting calls from their spouses telling them it’s time to quit'
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Security concerns are intensifying among lawmakers after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University Wednesday.
The attack has left members of Congress worried about their safety at public events like town halls and speeches.
“Multiple members are getting calls from their spouses telling them it’s time to quit,” one lawmaker told 24sight News, adding they’ve received 53 death threats this year.
“Members of Congress routinely face death threats. Our Jewish members have been under increasing threat over the last couple of years,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Thursday.
Johnson said that the House Administration Committee had initiated a pilot program allowing members to receive reimbursement for private security during large public events. Roughly 20 members participated over the past two months.
“After the political assassination of our dear friend, many members on both sides of the aisle approached me. Members who didn’t participate said their spouses and families are now very concerned,” Johnson said, adding that Congress is reviewing what security measures are appropriate going forward.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) told The Huffington Post there have been discussions about providing senators with security details when they are in their home states. Sources indicate that language to increase security funding will likely emerge during conference negotiations on the legislative branch appropriations bill, where money could be allocated for enhanced protections.
The concerns come amid a growing wave of political violence across the country. The Democratic National Committee got a bomb threat just one day after Kirk was killed.
Lawmakers from both parties have condemned the attack and called for an end to inflammatory rhetoric.
“Months after surviving an assassination attempt, the Hoffman family issued a strong statement condemning the horrific political violence against Charlie Kirk and urging all leaders not to accept this as our reality,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) posted on X, referring to Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, who sustained serious injuries in a politically motivated attack in June.
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Personal opinion. This assassination of Charlie Kirk was a set up. Charlie first thought that the Epstein Files contained names of Democratis and aligned wealthy, then Trump prevailed on him to change his tune, then the Birthday book put him back on track, this time Trump was the subject.
He was one hell of an influencer and that spelled trouble. His death creates an opportunity, create a Maryr like Horst Wessel, pin it on a helpless and hapless minority, transfolk and non existent antifa, divert attention from the Epstein files, and have a Reichstag moment.
I find the whole affair incredible, he was supposedly shot from 150 to 200 yards, through a tent, with a 30 cal hunting rifle, That is damn lucky shooting.
And then the rifle was conventiently found with a round chambered. Who would do that, and the casing on the round and in the magazine were engraved with messages about trans and anti fascist.
I have had stuff engraved, a cigerette lighter, which is many times bigger than a 30 cal casing.
The engravers tool enables you to trace large letters to small ones. You aren't going to engrave anything on 30 cal shell casings, unless you have access to such a tool.
Trump now has his cause belli to go to war with the least defensible of our population
Recall Pastor Niemollers lament. Only Hitler didn't start with the socialist, he started with the trans, then the mentally disabled, and worked his way up to the Jews and Slavs.
Trump has told us all along, who is in his sights, Brown folk and transfolk. And Justice Kavanaugh has blessed his Jihad.
The whole scenario is preposterous. And the photo of the person of interest has a narrow waist and large hips