• Individual made threatening hand gestures at Washington office Thursday
• Crockett blames rising political violence on rhetoric from national leaders
• No injuries reported as Capitol Police swiftly contained incident

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said U.S. Capitol Police responded Thursday to an incident where a person appeared at her Washington office and “made white supremacist threats and hand gestures,” adding to concerns about escalating political violence targeting members of Congress.

No one was injured in the incident, Crockett said in a statement Thursday evening. She credited Capitol Police for “their swift response” but warned that “this cannot become the norm.”

Lawmaker links incident to presidential rhetoric

The Texas Democrat, who represents the state’s 30th Congressional District, connected the threat to recent statements by President Donald Trump, who posted on Truth Social Thursday that certain Democratic lawmakers engaged in “seditious behavior” potentially “punishable by DEATH.”

We’re living in a time where political violence is being fueled from the very top. When the President of United States spreads hate and lies, when he targets his political opponents, when he openly calls for the death of sitting Members of Congress, he is putting a literal target on our backs.

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Trump’s posts came after a group of Democratic lawmakers with military or intelligence backgrounds released a video urging service members to disobey unlawful orders. Crockett was not among the lawmakers targeted in Trump’s posts. House Democratic leadership contacted Capitol Police and the House sergeant-at-arms to ensure the safety of members mentioned in Trump’s remarks.

Threats against lawmakers surge nationwide

The incident occurs amid a documented surge in threats against federal officials. Capitol Police investigated 9,474 concerning statements or direct threats against members of Congress, their families and staff in 2024—up from 8,008 cases in 2023 and nearly triple the 2017 figure.

Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger testified in December that more than 700 threats against members were made in a single month, with at least 50 cases of “swatting“—false 911 calls designed to trigger emergency responses at lawmakers’ homes.

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“We must continue to enhance our protective and intelligence operations to keep up with this evolving threat environment,” Manger said in a statement. The department has hired attorneys detailed to the Justice Department as special prosecutors to handle the increased caseload.

Congresswoman vows continued advocacy

Crockett, an outspoken critic of the Trump administration, said the incident illustrates why she requires security. “Every time I speak truth, stand up for my constituents, or call out corruption, the threats get louder—and more dangerous,” she stated.

The congresswoman has been a prominent voice on issues including racial justice and opposition to Trump policies. In February, she called Trump a “white supremacist” during a CNN interview. She previously told FBI Director Kash Patel during a congressional hearing: “I don’t know who feels safe in this country, except for the white supremacists.”

Crockett maintained her commitment to constituent service despite the threat. “I will not be intimidated. I will not be silenced. I will continue to show up for the people of Texas’ 30th Congressional District,” she said. “But we cannot pretend that this is normal. When leaders promote hate, hate shows up—sometimes right at our door.”

The Capitol Police did not immediately provide additional details about the incident or whether any arrests were made. The department said threats are made through mail, email, telephone, social media and internet platforms, noting that people often maintain a “false sense of anonymity” on social media.

Should social media platforms face stricter accountability for content that incites threats against public officials?

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