Brooks: Many Republicans Are Likely Retiring Due To Fear Of Assassination

UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the Capitol on July 28, 2017. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the Capitol on July 28, 2017. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) floated the idea Friday that Republicans are retiring from Congress in record numbers due to their fear of being assassinated, according to a Friday morning Roll Call report.

While speaking on the Dale Jackson Show, Brooks mentioned the shooting at the congressional Republican baseball practice last year, which left Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) badly wounded.  

“You have to wonder with that kind of disproportionate retirement number whether what happened in June played a factor,” he reportedly said. “There are a growing number of leftists who believe the way to resolve this is not at the ballot box but through threats and sometimes through violence and assassinations.”

Brooks conceded that most of the retiring Republicans would likely not attribute their decision to fear for their lives, but added that the number of those leaving, especially those who play on the team, is “out of whack.”

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for patl patl says:

    This has the Maxwell Smart “Would you believe…” feel to it.

  2. More like they’re afraid of metaphorical assassination on election day …

  3. After all, most assassins, gun nuts, and general crazies, are, we all know, liberal democrats. In pink pussy hats.

  4. The left is coming to get you but not with guns you paranoid snowflakes.

  5. Time for the NRA to make an unequivocal statement on the use of violence for political ends. Perhaps Nugent has something to say about America’s long history of Democrat assassins and gunmen?

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

223 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ajm Avatar for fess Avatar for kendyzdad Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for trnc Avatar for bonnie Avatar for yskov Avatar for psudawnc Avatar for catfish Avatar for pastor_agnostic Avatar for neal_anderthal Avatar for nicteis Avatar for darrtown Avatar for ryokyo Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for edgarant Avatar for crooks Avatar for patl Avatar for bashful Avatar for drtv Avatar for justruss Avatar for captain_america

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: