Federal authorities are investigating a troubling series of anonymous pizza deliveries to the homes of U.S. lawmakers and Capitol Police, which is being treated as a potential security threat.
The deliveries reveal that someone knows the private addresses of government officials, raising alarms just weeks after a politically motivated attack on Minnesota lawmakers.
This latest harassment tactic comes amid growing concerns about political violence targeting elected officials from both parties.
Capitol Police are working with federal, state, and local agencies to identify who is behind these unsolicited pizzas that are showing up at lawmakers’ doors.
Both Republican and Democrat officials have reported receiving these mysterious deliveries, which authorities view as an implicit threat – a way of saying “I know where you live.”
The timing could not be more concerning, as the deliveries coincide with a recent shooting in Minnesota where a former police impersonator targeted Democrat lawmakers.
Investigators discovered the suspect had compiled a hit list of approximately 70 potential targets, primarily consisting of Democrat politicians and abortion advocates.
Security experts point out that anonymous food deliveries have long been used as intimidation.
Demonstrating knowledge of officials’ private addresses, the perpetrators are sending a message that government protection is not enough to keep lawmakers safe in their homes.
Federal Judge Esther Salas, who lost her son in a targeted attack at her home in 2020, confirmed similar intimidation strategies have been used against judges.
“We had heard about pizzas being delivered to judges’ houses, and that says what? ‘I know where you live,'” she remarked.
In some particularly disturbing cases, the anonymous sender even used the name of her murdered son when placing the orders.
Furthermore, a congressional source revealed the extent of fear these deliveries have generated among government officials.
“People are really scared,” the source told reporters.
The Capitol Police have responded with a firm statement that “violence and threats, of any kind, targeted at elected officials will not be tolerated.”
However, the difficulty in tracing these deliveries and the ease with which they can be ordered anonymously online presents significant challenges for law enforcement.
The gloomy nature of this situation has not gone unnoticed by high-ranking officials. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has commended the U.S. Capitol Police for their diligent efforts to navigate these challenging times.
Yet, the need for further security measures underscores the increasing trend of political extremism and associated threats to elected officials.
The acting U.S. attorney in Minnesota, Joe Thompson, succinctly summarized, “It’s only the most recent example of violent political extremism in this country, and that’s a trend that’s been increasing in recent years.”
