Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) will miss votes Wednesday and reschedule a town hall in response to a “credible threat” made against members of his family, according to a statement from his office.
“Rep. Van Orden will be missing votes tomorrow and rescheduling his upcoming town hall due to a credible threat made against his wife, children, and grandchildren,” Van Orden’s press office said Tuesday in a statement on social platform X.
“The Congressman looks forward to returning to D.C. to do the job the people of Wisconsin’s Third District elected him to do,” the office added.
The threat was made in a letter delivered to his Washington-based office, according to the statement, which also noted the threat has been reported to authorities.
The U.S. Capitol Police declined to comment on the matter.
“For safety reasons, we cannot discuss any potential investigations,” Capitol Police said in a statement to The Hill.
The congressman’s office condemned threats of political violence against public officials of either party but blamed “far-left Democrats” for inspiring the rhetoric.
“No elected official, regardless of political party affiliation, should have to worry about the safety of their family while serving the American people,” the X post said. “Threats of political violence are not just dangerous — they are anti-American.”
“This type of behavior is the direct result of increasingly radical and violent rhetoric fueled by far-left Democrats who encourage hatred rather than healthy discourse,” the office’s statement continued. “It is a poison on our nation and every Member of Congress — Republican or Democrat — should fully condemn it when they see it.”
The development comes amid an uptick in incidents and threats of political violence against elected officials in recent years.
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