Gregoire Claims Death Threat, Blames Talk Radio

Gregoire receives death threat (Seattle Times)

The Washington State Patrol is keeping close watch over both Gov. Christine Gregoire and her Republican rival, Dino Rossi, after Gregoire received a death threat and emotions over the contested election continue to run high. Gregoire told reporters today she received a death threat and that she plans to keep a lid on publicizing her movements outside the heavily guarded Capitol and Governor’s Mansion. Rossi has around-the-clock protection. “I’m going to honor it when the chief of the state patrol says that for my personal security, we need to maintain some procedures,” Gregoire said, referring to the blackout on releasing a detailed schedule. “Give me six months. Allow me these six months.”

She said she got a death threat, but added: “I’m not going to be deterred by any of that. I got death threats, frankly, when I was attorney general. I’ve got a job to do, but I’m also going to be smart (about security considerations). I owe that to the citizens of the state and I will listen to the chief of the state patrol.”

She said blamed “the level of discussion on some of these talk radio shows” for whipping up people.

[…]

DeVere said a third party reported overhearing Jeffrey Martelli of the Yakima County town of Wapato saying he disliked government officials and planned to kill Gregoire and her children, he said. Nothing came of the Jan. 19 threat, but the man was booked, arrested and released to await a trial, he said.

So, some yahoo was overheard saying that he “disliked government officials” and made what was almost certainly an idle threat to kill Gregoire and her children? And said yahoo is in custody? Aside from the issue of what exactly the charges would be, why exactly is Gregoire in danger?

As Michelle Malkin notes, “It is is not clear from the article if subsequent threats were made on Gregoire. Nor is it clear whether Martelli listened to talk radio.” No joke.

FILED UNDER: 2004 Election,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. DC Loser says:

    “It is is not clear from the article if subsequent threats were made on Gregoire. Nor is it clear whether Martelli listened to talk radio.”

    The Secret Service have arrested people for doing less in reference to POTUS.

  2. Jay Sundahl says:

    “And said yahoo is in custody?”

    No, from the your own quote of the article.

    “Nothing came of the Jan. 19 threat, but the man was booked, arrested and released to await a trial, he said.”