Threats of Violence Against Public Officials Grow

Public figures across the U.S. are facing escalating harassment and threats of violence. While high-profile figures such as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, targeted by an armed man, command attention, threats increasingly involve less-prominent officials, such as school-board members.

Threats of Violence Against Public Officials Grow
Brett Kavanaugh

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at 2018 Senate hearings. Photo by Felix Josephat via Flickr

Public figures across the U.S. are facing escalating harassment and threats of violence at a time of deep political divisions and coarsened public debate, reports the Wall Street Journal.

As a result, some are resigning, while others are receiving enhanced security.

While high-profile figures such as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was targeted earlier this month by an armed man who said he planned to kill him, command much of the attention, threats increasingly involve less-prominent officials, such as local election supervisors and school-board members.

A study released last November by the National League of Cities found 81 percent of local public officials surveyed said they had experienced harassment, threats or violence in recent years.

Among the factors fueling the trend, according to the report, were political polarization, deepening rifts over issues of race and gender, and the spread of misinformation through social media.

Cases opened by the U.S. Capitol Police because of direct threats against members of Congress or “directions of interest,” which include incidents of harassment, increased to 9,625 in 2021 from 3,939 in 2017, according to department data.