UPDATE: Friday, March 26, 11:40am: Just as Republican officials and the Jefferson Area Tea Party condemned acts of vandalism againt Congressman Tom Perriello’s brother, the Daily Progress reports that windows of the Albemarle County GOP headquarters in the Albemarle Square shopping center were broken with bricks. A statement from Albemarle County lists damages at an estimated $1,000.
According to Albemarle County, at least two bricks were thrown through the windows of the GOP HQ shuttering two windows and partially damaging the third one.
Perriello released this statement on the incident:
"Those responsible for the destruction of property at the Albemarle GOP headquarters should be caught and brought to justice. I implore people on all sides of this debate to put an immediate end to attacks and threats. These actions are dangerous and reprehensible, and they have to stop."
Hours after Fifth District Democratic Congressman Tom Perriello appeared on CNN to discuss the publication of his brother’s home address by a member of the Lynchburg Tea Party, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor appeared before the camera to respond to reported gunfire outside his office. Cantor’s announcement follows a series of threatening incidents reported by members of Congress.
"Just recently, I have been directly threatened. A bullet was shot through the window of my campaign office in Richmond this week, and I’ve received threatening e-mails," Cantor told CNN. He added that he has "received threats since I assumed elected office, not only because of my position but also because I’m Jewish."
Cantor expressed concern that threats might be used for partisan political gain.
"That is why I have deep concerns that some—DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen and DNC Chairman Tim Kaine in particular—are dangerously fanning the flames by suggesting that these incidents be used as a political weapon."
Watch the video below:
Congressman Perriello appeared on CNN this morning to speak about the posting of his brother’s address by a member of the Lynchburg Tea Party, and the subsequent finding of a severed propane gas line on his brother’s property. [The locally based Jefferson Area Tea Party called the incident at the home of Perriello’s brother "a repulsive act." Read C-VILLE’s coverage of the Jefferson Area Tea party here.]
"We’ve had some officials in our state speak up very strongly" against such incidents, said Perriello, naming both Governor Bob McDonnell and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. "Unfortunately, we’re not seeing that same seriousness from the Republican leaders here in Washington." He specified that Republicans in Virginia and the Fifth District "understand the difference between someone who’s breaking the law and someone who’s simply upset about policy." Watch the video below:
