1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am writing to demand that you immediately and publicly condemn the dangerous rhetoric of Rep. Josh Gillette, who recently called for Rep. Pramila Jayapal to be hanged. Gillette has not apologized—instead, he has doubled down, dismissing credible reporting as “fake news” and repeating the baseless smear that Rep. Jayapal “openly advocates for the violent overthrow of the U.S. government.” Calls for the murder of a colleague are not political disagreements. They are incitements to violence that undermine the safety of elected officials, the integrity of Congress, and the stability of our democracy. Failure to speak out only normalizes this behavior and invites further escalation. I urge you to issue a clear statement rejecting these threats, demand accountability for Rep. Gillette’s conduct, and insist that he either apologize or resign his seat. No member of Congress who calls for the execution of a colleague can credibly continue to serve in office. Our representatives must model civility, uphold the rule of law, and make clear that violent threats have no place in American politics. I call on you to act decisively.