The FBI and Denver police are conducting an investigation into the surge of threats against Colorado Supreme Court justices following their recent ruling. Last week, the court disqualified Donald Trump from appearing on the state ballot due to his involvement in an insurrection.
Reacting to the court’s decision, the former president took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his criticism, sparking an onslaught of threats against the justices, as NBC reported last week. In the wake of the ruling, Advance Democracy reported a significant increase in violent rhetoric against the justices and Democrats, including the spread of their contact information and office addresses.
Daniel J. Jones, president of Advance Democracy, told NBC News that Trump’s attempts to delegitimize and politicize the courts have contributed to the escalation in violent rhetoric.
In response to the threats, the Denver police are providing additional patrols around the justices’ residences, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Denver Police Department in a statement to Axios, and the FBI stated that it is “aware of the situation and working with local law enforcement,” as reported by CNN.
Public officials targeted by Trump and his allies have repeatedly reported a surge in threats against them, indicating a concerning trend. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco highlighted the “unprecedented rise” in such threats in a recent interview with ABC News, emphasizing the need to address the issue.
Despite these warnings, Trump has shown no signs of changing his behavior, further fueling the divisive rhetoric. This ongoing situation is part of a broader pattern of attempts to undermine the rule of law, with significant implications for public safety and the functioning of democratic institutions.
Clarissa-Jan Lim
Clarissa-Jan Lim is a breaking/trending news blogger for MSNBC Digital. She was previously a senior reporter and editor at BuzzFeed News.
