The House Republican who received a threatening email Wednesday that warned “one down, 216 to go” after a shooting at a baseball practice that targeted Republican lawmakers argued Democrats are willing to do anything to make sure she loses in 2018.
“They want me to lose and they want to put somebody else in place. So they’re willing to do almost anything and they’re encouraging people to do this unfortunately,” Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., told Fox News Thursday.
Tenney says she has been receiving threatening phone messages and emails since she took office Jan. 3. She also said she received a message on Memorial Day wishing her son, who is a first attendant in the Marine Corps, comes back in a body bag.
She feels violence has been normalized as a result of the polarized discourse in the country and believes that groups prone to violence such as the Resist and Indivisible movements have been emboldened by the backing of Democrats.
“I think this has reached a level that violence in the situation has been normalized. I have to say that the Resist movements, the Indivisible movements, this movement that has been supported unfortunately by the Democrats,” Tenney said.
Tenney remains hopeful the freshman class of lawmakers will adhere to its pledge of civility and will continue to work together.
“I think it was our statement as a freshman class to recognize the level of the rhetoric that was unacceptable and understanding that yes, we disagree on policy, we should have debate, it’s the American way. But, the First Amendment doesn’t include violence, not something that we try to stand for,” Tenney added.
