1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about recent events involving President Trump's dangerous rhetoric towards elected officials. His social media posts accusing six Democratic lawmakers of "seditious behavior, punishable by death" for reminding service members of their duty to refuse unlawful orders is a grave threat to our democracy and the safety of our public servants. These lawmakers, who have honorably served our country in military and intelligence roles, were simply upholding their oath to defend the Constitution. By characterizing their actions as treason and calling for their arrest and trial, the President is not only misrepresenting their message but also potentially inciting violence against them. This incident is part of a worrying trend. Recent polls show that a majority of Americans believe politically motivated violence is on the rise. We've seen an increase in threats to public officials and dangerous "swatting" attempts. These actions erode the foundations of our democratic process and create an atmosphere of fear that can suppress free speech and political participation. I urge you to take immediate action to address this situation. We need clear condemnation of threats against elected officials, regardless of their party affiliation. Furthermore, I ask that you support legislation to protect public servants from politically motivated threats and violence. This should include increased security measures and stricter enforcement against those who incite or threaten violence, even when such threats come from high-ranking officials. The integrity of our democracy depends on the ability of our representatives to serve without fear of retribution or violence. We must act now to safeguard our democratic institutions and ensure that all voices can be heard without threat of harm. Our nation's future stability is at stake, and your leadership on this issue is crucial.