Utah lawmakers say threats towards their lives or family members have increased over the years, leading toward more security enhancements at the state Capitol building.
Security at the Capitol building has bulked up over the years, according to Joe Dougherty, director of public affairs for the Utah Department of Public Safety. He said the agency has added hundreds of bollards and security cameras around the building, as well as placing more troopers and establishing an emergency notification system for staffers.
“State officials need to know they can carry out the public’s business in a safe and an open environment,” Dougherty said. “The Capitol is a magnificent building and represents so much about the good that happens inside and with all involved stakeholders, we strive to balance openness and safety.”
“The Utah Department of Public Safety has seen a dramatic increase in reporting after recent January 2021 events, namely the U.S. Capitol breach. In 2021 DPS investigated 103 threats cases, most of which were directed towards elected officials,” he said. “In 2020 DPS investigated 43 threats cases.”
Most of the threat cases involve elected officials, but there are some cases that have involved other government employees, according to Dougherty. Dougherty said most threats come from social media accounts and other online platforms.
During a news conference last week, House Speaker Brad Wilson and House Majority Leader Mike Schultz said they were in discussions to increase security at the Capitol.
“There has been, I think, an increased frequency of communication to elected officials over the last couple of years that’s maybe raised our eyebrows at times,” Wilson said.
Schultz said it’s an issue legislative leaders are taking seriously, especially after the racial justice protests in 2020 that were prompted by the death of George Floyd, a Black Minnesota man who was killed by a white police officer.
“It is something that we’re taking seriously and that needs to be taken seriously,” Schultz said, adding that the Capitol Preservation Board is in talks about installing fencing around the building.
When asked if legislative leaders have considered banning guns in the building, Wilson responded, “That’s something we’re discussing right now.”
Threats to state lawmakers
Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, said in 2020 she received incessant calls from a man shortly after being invited to the vice presidential debate at the University of Utah as Kamala Harris’ guest. At the debate, Romero criticized then-Second Lady Karen Pence on Fox News for not wearing a mask to the event. The caller wouldn’t tell her who he was. Romero said she filed a police report.
Romero, who has been in office since 2012, said it’s not uncommon for lawmakers to receive threats when proposing legislation deemed controversial. She said threats towards lawmakers have increased since the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots.
“Our Capitol is so open and at times,” she said. “Even last year, when ... we had COVID and what happened on Jan. 6, there are many of us that had concerns for our safety because of our stances on police reform and our stances on just particular issues.”
State Sens. Daniel McCay and Luz Escamilla have also said they’ve received threats involving their children by name.
Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Salt Lake City, said a man last year visited his home unannounced while a babysitter was watching his children. Stoddard said the incident, which he reported to the Utah Department of Public Safety, happened after he filed an impeachment resolution against Attorney General Sean Reyes to probe into his alleged ties to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
“It was related to his effort to undermine the election, so very passionate, and still very raw,” Stoddard said. “My kids were at home with a sitter and we had someone show up to our house to talk about it.”
Stoddard said the experience was very upsetting and called for the public to have compassion for lawmakers.
Follow @kimbojorque