Sen. Thom Tillis targeted by death threats. He has a promise for anyone who makes them

WASHINGTON — A woman warned Sen. Thom Tillis to be “very careful about going out in public.”

A man said he wanted to cut Tillis’ throat.

Another told the North Carolina Republican that a constituent could take an ax handle and cave in his head.

And the threats — all received since the last election — extended to his staff, his kids and his grandkids.

“Senator Tillis, his staff, and even his family have long been subject to threats, harassment, attempted intimidation, and verbal abuse from unstable individuals who don’t agree with his political views,” Tillis’ staff told McClatchy in a written statement.

They shared over three minutes of uncensored audio that included threats and vulgar language with McClatchy to demonstrate messages left for Tillis.

Threats are the new normal

Threats to lawmakers are nothing new and happens on both sides of the aisle.

Capitol Police reported 9,625 threats against members of Congress in 2021, a record high. That number dropped to 7,501 in 2022, but began to climb again with 8,008 threats in 2023 and 9,474 in 2024. And those are the threats that have been reported.

“United States Capitol Police special agents work 24/7 to investigate threats and coordinate with law enforcement agencies to prevent potential attacks against lawmakers,” a report from Capitol Police states. “Members of Congress of both political parties receive a wide-range of threats and concerning statements that are sent through mail, email, telephone, social media and the internet. People continue to have a false sense of anonymity on social media, which has resulted in more investigations during the past several years.”

Tillis recently told reporters that he’s so used to threats it’s like “going to 7-Eleven and getting a gallon of milk.”

“It just happens,” Tillis said.

But Tillis is facing increased scrutiny from all sides. The North Carolina Republican Party censured him in 2023. And in recent weeks, ahead of a reelection bid in 2026, he has leaned further to the right in supporting President Donald Trump’s nominees.

Capitol Police Public Affairs Specialist Brianna Burch told McClatchy Thursday that they look into anything concerning to a member of Congress, their family or staff, or anyone else.

“As long as it’s reported to us, or we see it on an open source, we’ll look into it,” Burch said.

Tillis told reporters he doesn’t put up with threats.

“This is my promise,” Tillis said, “Anybody that communicates a death threat to me, if we catch you, I’m pressing charges. There’s no place for that and I would encourage any other members to do the same thing.”

In 2022, a Minnesota man pleaded guilty to threatening to shoot and kill a U.S. senator for working on bipartisan legislation. Tillis’ staff told McClatchy Thursday that he was that senator.

It’s not clear which legislation upset the man, but Tillis is known for working across the aisle on policy, much to the ire of his own party. Around that time, the Republican Party grew upset with Tillis for his work with Democrats on gun, gay marriage and immigration legislation.

Within the same year Tillis was censured, an expatriate was returned to the United States and accused by federal prosecutors of threatening to kill Tillis and cut off his staffers’ hands.

Protests

Tillis has also faced protests throughout his political career that includes serving as House speaker in North Carolina.

Recently, protesters have gathered outside Tillis’ offices to protest billionaire Elon Musk and his unofficial government agency, the Department of Government Efficiency, that is cutting budgets and federal jobs. They’re also protesting recent votes Tillis has made on some of Trump’s nominations to help lead his administration.

But Tillis’ staff says not all of the protests have remained peaceful, leading local police in the Triad to advise one of Tillis’ teams to work from home when they know a protest is planned.

“When things get really bad, people are going to stop calling and writing,” one letter writer warned Tillis and his team. “They’re going to start coming in, and they’re going to be coming in filled with rage that you’re boss took the food out of their kid’s mouth or destroyed the ACA … and you signed up to be his shield. Resign, please resign, or find a Groupon for self defense class because America’s transition to oligarchy is going to be a wild ride for us peans.”

The letter writer added not to take this as a threat.

Town halls

He decided to publish some of the threats after receiving phone calls from reporters about why Tillis is skipping town halls being held by left-leaning groups.

One, held by Indivisible Guilford County NC, is scheduled for Monday at College Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, and the Facebook post promoting it has led a few people into believing Tillis, himself, is holding the event, despite the organizers making clear they’re behind it.

House Republicans have been told by their campaign arm, led by Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican from Southern Pines, to stop hosting town halls due to backlash they’re facing during these events.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican from Flat Rock, plans to host one Thursday despite that mandate.

But Tillis hasn’t announced plans for a town hall of his own, and says he will not be at the upcoming town halls hosted by others. A memo from his staff to reporters describing the threats he’s faced, which his office shared with McClatchy, says it would be “ridiculous” to ask why he wouldn’t attend a partisan event.

“Democratic parties and established left-wing political groups protesting a Republican member of Congress is nothing new nor newsworthy,” Tillis’ staff wrote in the memo. “What is newsworthy is the volume of threats and harassment directed at members of Congress and their staff is the new normal and indicative of a much larger problem with the political discourse in our country. The current President of the United States was targeted for assassination not once but twice during the last campaign, and both attempts happened less than a year ago.”