Surge in Violent Threats Against Officials Shadows 2024 Campaign

Public Servants Across the Spectrum Face Intimidation, Influencing Decision-Making and Undermining Democracy

Violent threats and acts of intimidation against government officials have surged since the 2020 election, casting a shadow over the 2024 campaign.
Public servants from a range of roles, including members of Congress, state officials, local leaders and judges, have been targeted, with the intensity accelerating in recent weeks.
Recent incidents include bomb threats causing evacuations at state capitol buildings across the country, a man charged with threatening to kill a congressman and his children, and swatting incidents targeting various officials.
Many of the targets share a common attribute: They have done or said something that has earned former President Donald Trump’s ire.
Experts warn that the possibility of harm being inflicted on public servants is already undermining the health of U.S. democracy because the intimidation risks influencing their decision-making.