Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) criticized President Trump in a Thursday night statement announcing that a person showed up at her D.C. office and "made white supremacist threats and hand gestures."
The big picture: Threats against lawmakers have surged in recent years, and Crockett said in a Thursday night statement that such intimidating encounters "cannot become the norm."
- Her comments came hours after House Democratic leadership said they'd contacted U.S. Capitol Police and the House sergeant-at-arms to protect a group of lawmakers after Trump appeared to suggest that their comments were "punishable by DEATH!""
What they're saying: "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. The President should be committed unity, not more division," Crockett said.
- "Some folks have questioned why I need security. This is why. Every time I speak truth, stand up for my constituents, or call out corruption, the threats get louder — and more dangerous," she added.
- "I will not be intimidated. I will not be silenced. I will continue to show up for the people of Texas' 30th Congressional District. But we cannot pretend that this is normal. When leaders promote hate, hate shows up — sometimes right at our door."
- The White House referred Axios to comments Trump made in an interview aired Friday on "The Brian Kilmeade Show:" "I'm not threatening them, but I think they're in serious trouble," Trump said of the six lawmakers who made the video he said was "punishable by death."
- Representatives for the Capitol Police did not immediately respond to Axios' Thursday night request for comment.
Go deeper: House Dem leaders contact Capitol Police after Trump "death threats"
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout.
