⚡ Political threats spiral

Plus: Calling Trump's bluff | Thursday, August 11, 2022

Open in app View in browser     Axios Sneak Peek By Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Zachary Basu · Aug 11, 2022 Welcome back to Sneak. Smart Brevity™ count: 1,021 words ... 4 minutes. ⚡ Situational awareness: An armed man who tried to breach the FBI's Cincinnati office was shot and killed by police after an hourslong standoff.     1 big thing: Political threats spiral Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios   Politicians, public officials and even obscure bureaucrats are becoming inured to the new normal of today's polarized America: constant threats of violence inflamed by highly charged political rhetoric, Axios' Andrew Solender writes. Why it matters: The Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol demonstrated how easily tensions can boil over into devastating political violence. And the problem is only getting worse. FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee last week that political violence is becoming "almost a 365-day phenomenon." "I feel like every day I'm getting briefed on somebody throwing a Molotov cocktail at someone for some issue," Wray testified. "It's crazy." Driving the news: The FBI's search of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence spurred a wave of threats against individuals involved in nearly every level of the process. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Wray and FBI agents have faced an uptick in online threats since Monday, according to Fox News. The biography and contact information of Bruce Reinhart, the judge who approved the search warrant, were scrubbed from his district court's website, and his synagogue canceled a Shabbat event amid anti-Semitic threats. What they're saying: Garland today took aim at "unfounded attacks on the professionalism" of DOJ officials, stating, "I will not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked." The comments during a press conference about the Mar-a-Lago search came shortly after an armed attack on an FBI building in Cincinnati. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), a former impeachment manager, shared audio of a call he received in which a person said: "Cut his f***ing head off ... cut his wife's head off, cut his kids' head off." (Warning, linked tweet includes graphic audio.) "Since the FBI search ... Republicans are stoking violent rhetoric against lawmakers and law enforcement," Swalwell tweeted. "Someone is going to get killed." The big picture: This latest development is just one ripple in a wave of recent politically motivated threats. Threats against members of Congress have risen each year since 2017, according to Capitol Police data. Recent incidents involving Reps. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) have further rattled Capitol Hill. The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade has raised concerns about violence against justices and organizations on both sides of the abortion debate. And a House Oversight Committee report released today detailed how election workers ensnared by efforts to sow doubt about the 2020 election received graphic threats against their life. Share this story.     2. ⚡ Garland calls bluff Attorney General Merrick Garland. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images   By 3pm ET tomorrow, a federal judge in Florida will have an answer on whether former President Trump opposes the Justice Department's request to unseal parts of the search warrant executed at Mar-a-Lago. Why it matters: Garland made clear at his press conference today that it was Trump's decision — not DOJ's — to make news of the search public and turn it into a fundraising spectacle. Trump's allies seized on DOJ's silence to spread allegations that the search was unjustified and politically motivated — with some even baselessly suggesting that the FBI had planted evidence. But as Garland confirmed, Trump's lawyers were given a copy of the warrant and receipt for property seized, as required by law. Between the lines: It was Trump's response, the fallout and the "substantial public interest in the matter" that spurred Garland's unusual request to unseal the warrant. Now it's up to the former president to decide whether to back down or reveal key information he's had all along. 👀 The latest: Classified documents related to nuclear weapons were among the materials sought by FBI agents during Monday's search, the Washington Post reports.     3. 🐊 Florida swing voters: Bring on the warrants Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images   Florida swing voters in our latest Engagious/Schlesinger focus groups say the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago was justified — and that it would be a "serious crime" if Trump did take classified documents from the White House, Axios' Alexi McCammond writes. Why it matters: Trump's aggressive rhetoric about the search may be boosting his base support and fundraising — but it's not cutting through for this mix of Democrats, independents and Republicans who once backed him. What they're saying: "Just because he was president doesn't mean he should get a pass," said Sharelle H., 35. "I feel like he should be made an example of because he's human and a citizen just like all of us." Lilly L., 36, said the FBI "must have had a really good reason to go inside his home" and "wouldn't do that out of the blue." Chris W., 49, said when it comes to Trump's handling of sensitive documents, "He has a kind of cavalier attitude with things like that. ... I wouldn't be surprised if he has a stash of a bunch of files. ... I don't trust the guy." Flashback: In July, 10 of 14 Wisconsin swing voters said Trump should be prosecuted for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and role in the attack on the Capitol; 10 of 13 Arizona swing voters said the same in June. Keep reading.     A message from Axios The news you need in 10 minutes.     Catch up on the biggest stories of the day and why they matter with the Axios Today podcast. Host Niala Boodhoo is joined by journalists from Axios' newsroom to unpack the stories shaping your world and the trends shaping our time. Listen for free.     4. 📈 Social media standoff: Oz vs. Fetterman Data: NewsWhip; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios The number of online news articles and social media interactions about Mehmet Oz, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, has exceeded his Democratic rival John Fetterman's metrics for most of the year, Axios' Stef Kight writes. Why it matters: That's not necessarily a good thing. Oz is polling at an average of 10 points below Fetterman in what should be one of the most closely contested Senate seats in the nation. The celebrity doctor's vulnerabilities as a candidate — including a stream of opposition research pushed by Democrats — has Republicans fearing they may have fumbled a golden opportunity to help retake the Senate in November. What we're watching: Media coverage and anticipation have been building for Fetterman's rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, tomorrow — his first since a stroke took him off the campaign trail in May. Keep reading.     5. 🔎 Parting shot: Pages for history Photo: Jon Elswick/AP Go deeper: Read the full DOJ filing     A message from Axios The news you need in 10 minutes.     Catch up on the biggest stories of the day and why they matter with the Axios Today podcast. Host Niala Boodhoo is joined by journalists from Axios' newsroom to unpack the stories shaping your world and the trends shaping our time. 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