U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio’s district offices in Carnegie and Beaver County’s Center Township were targeted with bomb threats Friday afternoon, a spokesperson reported.
The threats came a day after President Donald Trump accused Deluzio and five other Democratic lawmakers of engaging in “seditious behavior” by releasing a video telling servicemembers and intelligence officials they have a right — and obligation — to refuse illegal orders.
Trump said such behavior could be “punishable by death.”
Deluzio’s office reported that the congressman and his staffers were safe following Friday’s bomb threats, which led to the district offices being evacuated.
“Political violence and threats like this are unacceptable,” the office said.
The office did not respond to questions about whether Deluzio, a Democrat from Fox Chapel, had increased his personal security or security at his offices in the 17th Congressional District or Washington. The district includes all of Beaver County and part of Allegheny County.
The lawmakers who released the video all served in the military or intelligence community. Deluzio went to the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a Navy officer.
The lawmakers, including two senators and four members of the House, did not say in the video what orders issued during the current administration they consider illegal. There has been debate over the deployment of troops to U.S. cities and military strikes conducted against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Numerous government officials, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Sens. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, and Dave McCormick, R-Pittsburgh, issued statements Thursday condemning extreme and violent political rhetoric. McCormick, who attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served as an Army officer, also described the lawmakers’ video as “inappropriate and unwarranted.”
