Crime

Home Crime

Man Arrested With Body Armor, Rifle Painted Like Toy Near Trump Golf Course

Police image via Pixabay free images

Deputies in Los Angeles stopped what could have turned into a far more dangerous situation near a Trump-owned golf course.

Authorities arrested a 36-year-old Arizona man after he was spotted running through traffic near Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes while armed with multiple weapons, including a loaded rifle painted to resemble a toy.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriffโ€™s Department, the suspect โ€” identified as Sean Steiner of Glendale, Arizona โ€” had been seen earlier hiking in the area with a duffel bag, step stool, and rifle before entering traffic along Palos Verdes Drive South around 5 p.m. on March 29.

When deputies arrived, they found the rifle had been painted green and purple and marked with the phrases โ€œHA HA HA HAโ€ and โ€œWhy so serious?โ€ โ€” a reference to the Joker character from Batman. The tip had also been painted orange, โ€œresembling a toy gun,โ€ according to authorities.

What may have looked theatrical was anything but harmless.

โ€œNot only was the rifle loaded with a round in the chamber and a full magazine insertedโ€ฆ he admitted he had just fired one of the pistols near the landslide area to โ€˜get some anger out,โ€™โ€ the sheriffโ€™s Lomita Station said in a statement.

Deputies also discovered two loaded handguns, high-capacity magazines, and additional ammunition. Steiner was wearing a ballistic vest capable of stopping rifle rounds.

โ€œLet that sink in,โ€ authorities wrote. โ€œAn armed individual, firing a weapon, walking through traffic and trailsโ€ฆ in a populated area.โ€

Sean Steiner, right, is accused of multiple firearm-related felonies after Los Angeles deputies say they arrested him near a Trump-owned golf course with a semiautomatic rifle painted to look like a toy. He is also accused of firing a handgun in the brush nearby before running into traffic. (Lomita Sheriff’s Station via Fox News)

The situation underscores how quickly a volatile scenario can escalate โ€” and how critical early reporting can be. Officials credited witnesses who called in the suspicious behavior before anyone was injured, emphasizing the importance of the public safety mantra: โ€œif you see something, say something.โ€

Steiner now faces multiple felony firearm charges. He was booked March 29 and released on bond April 1.

While investigators say Steiner had little prior criminal history beyond minor offenses, the incident raises broader concerns about armed individuals near high-profile locations โ€” particularly those associated with President Donald Trump.

It also echoes another alarming case: Ryan Routh, who was previously arrested after allegedly hiding in bushes near a Trump golf course while armed. That case, like this one, highlighted the persistent security risks surrounding prominent political figures and the critical role of vigilant law enforcement.

Multiple House Democrats Report Bomb Threats On Thanksgiving

4

On Thanksgiving Day, three House Democrats reported receiving bomb threats prompting law enforcement to investigate the concerning trend.

In each case, Reps.ย Jahana Hayesย (D-CT),ย Jim Himesย (D-CT), andย John Larsonย (D-CT) reported they wereย threatened with explosivesย early in the morning. After police got involved, each was deemed safe and the threats did not appear to be credible.

Himes said in a statement:

This morning, I was notified of a bomb threat targeting my home where I was celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. Thankfully, after a swift and thorough response from the United States Capitol Police, the Greenwich Police Department, and the Stamford Police Department, no evidence of a bomb was found. Mary, Emma, Linley, and I extend our utmost gratitude to our local law enforcement officers for their immediate action to ensure our safety. There is no place for political violence in this country, and I hope that we may all continue through the holiday season with peace and civility.

Hayes also released the following statement:

At 7:47am I was notified by Chief Edward Stephens of the Wolcott Police Department that they received a threatening email stating a pipe bomb had been placed in the mailbox at my home. State police, U.S. Capitol Police, and the Sergeant at Arms were immediately notified. The Wolcott Police Department and State Police responded and no bomb or explosive materials were discovered and the scene was cleared.

At this time the investigation is ongoing. I thank law enforcement for their swift attention to this matter, their actions demonstrate there is no place in our country for political violence. On this Thanksgiving, I am grateful for my family and loved ones. I plan to spend the day with them and hope you all do the same. May you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Larson said in a statement he was visited early Thursday at his home by officers in East Hartford.

โ€œThe police determined no bomb was present at the property and the Larson family is safe,โ€ the congressman said. โ€œI would like to thank the East Hartford Police Department for their swift and professional response in ensuring the safety of my family. I am grateful that my colleagues in the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, who received similar threats, are also safe. Thanks again to law enforcement at every level, from local, to state, to federal.โ€

The trio of threats comes days after incoming White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reported that multiple Trump Cabinet nominees have also received death threats.

Nearly a dozen of President-elect Donald Trumpโ€™s Cabinet nominees and other appointees tapped for the incoming administration were targeted Tuesday night with โ€œviolent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,โ€ prompting a โ€œswiftโ€ law enforcement response.

The โ€œattacks ranged from bomb threats to โ€˜swatting,โ€™โ€ accordingย to Karoline Leavitt.

โ€œ[Tuesday] night and this morning, several of President Trumpโ€™s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,โ€ she told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. โ€œIn response, law enforcement acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.โ€ 

Pardoned Capitol Rioter Charged With Threatening To Kill Hakeem Jeffries

6

Authorities arrested a pardoned Capitol rioter last weekend for allegedly threatening to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Court documents obtained by CBS News said Christopher Moynihan was arrested Sunday after saying in text messages that he planned to “eliminate” Jeffries when the top House Democrat spoke at an event in New York City on Monday. 

The House Minority Leader spoke at the Economic Club of New York on Monday.ย 

CBS News reports:

According to a court filing by prosecutors in the New York state criminal case, Moynihan wrote, “Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live.”

Moynihan also allegedly stated: “Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated, I will kill him for the future,” the filing said.

Moynihan faces a felony charge of making a terroristic threat, according to court filings.

Moynihan was among the large group of Capitol riot defendants pardoned by President Trump nine months ago. In a shocking move only hours after returning to the White House, President Trump granted clemency to more than 1,500 other Capitol riot defendants.

Moynihan was found guilty in August 2022 of obstructing an official proceeding, and pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges. He was sentenced in February 2023 to 21 months in prison.

Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Moynihan’s arrest for allegedly threatening Jeffries was made by New York State Police, according to a statement by the agency that was confirmed by a state official. The investigation was initiated by the FBI, according to state police.

A state police statement said Moynihan was arraigned in local court in Clinton, a town in New York’s Hudson Valley region. He was remanded to the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center “in lieu of $10,000 cash bail, a $30,000 bond, or an $80,000 partially secured bond.” 

The alleged threat against Jeffries is only the latest threat in part of a rapidly growing wave of threats against legislators and political figures. In a statement last month, Capitol Police said the number of threat investigations in 2025 had already eclipsed 14,000, more than the number of cases in all of 2024. ย 

Nancy Mace Attacked Amid Fight To Protect Womenโ€™s Rights

Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) revealed that she was physically attacked Tuesday evening on Capitol grounds, an alarming incident that underscores the contentious debate surrounding her efforts to protect womenโ€™s spaces.

โ€œI was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women,โ€ Mace announced on X. โ€œCapitol police have arrested him.โ€ The U.S. Capitol Police confirmed the arrest of 33-year-old James McIntyre of Illinois, who now faces charges of assaulting a government official.

The assault occurred just before 6 p.m. inside the Rayburn House Office Building, a federal government office on Capitol Hill. Capitol Police and Threat Assessment Section agents quickly apprehended McIntyre, who had entered the building after passing through routine security checks.

While the police statement did not explicitly name Mace, her public account of the attack has reignited focus on her uncompromising legislative push. Mace has introduced a bill aimed at barring transgender women from using womenโ€™s restrooms and locker rooms on Capitol Hill, arguing itโ€™s a necessary safeguard for biological womenโ€™s safety and privacy.

โ€œAll the violence and threats keep proving our point,โ€ Mace declared. โ€œWomen deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women!โ€

Battling Backlash and Violence

Maceโ€™s advocacy has drawn fierce opposition from LGBTQ+ groups, who argue her legislation is discriminatory. Despite this, Mace remains steadfast, framing the debate as one about safeguarding womenโ€™s rights.

Her resolve is deeply personal. โ€œLook, I am a rape survivor, a survivor of sexual violence and abuse,โ€ Mace shared in a recent interview with NewsNation. โ€œI know how vulnerable women and girls are in private spaces. At the end of the day, the question is: do women have rights or not?โ€

Mace also highlighted concerns about the Capitolโ€™s shared spaces, noting her discomfort with the potential presence of biological men in womenโ€™s locker rooms and restrooms. โ€œIf Iโ€™m in the womenโ€™s gym in D.C., changing clothes, and a man shows up with his genitalia in the room, thatโ€™s not okay. This is about protecting privacy and safety.โ€

Speakerโ€™s Support Amid Controversy

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently affirmed Maceโ€™s position, announcing that biological men would no longer be permitted in womenโ€™s bathrooms and locker rooms on Capitol grounds. โ€œWomen deserve womenโ€™s-only spaces,โ€ Johnson stated, providing legislative backing to Maceโ€™s campaign.

The congresswoman, previously known for her socially moderate views, has drawn a definitive โ€œred lineโ€ in this debate. โ€œAt some point, we have to draw a line with this insanity,โ€ she stated firmly. โ€œThis is about protecting the rights and safety of women everywhere.โ€

As the dust settles on this latest chapter in Maceโ€™s fight, one thing remains clear: the debate over womenโ€™s spaces and privacy is far from over.

READ NEXT: Matt Gaetz Reveals Major Career Move โ€“ January Will Be Huge

Rosie O’Donnell Asks For Prayers As Daughter Chelsea Faces ‘Scary Future’ In Prison

3
By David Shankbone - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3937757

TV personality Rosie Oโ€™Donnell is appealing for prayers as her daughter Chelsea faces what she calls a โ€œscary future.โ€

Oโ€™Donnell posted on Instagram: โ€œMy child Chelsea Belle โ€“ before addiction took over her life โ€“ I loved her then, I love her now as she faces a scary future โ€“ prayers welcomed. #addiction awareness #love #family.โ€

According to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, Chelsea had her probation revoked on October 22 and was sentenced to serve time in prison.

In a written statement, Oโ€™Donnell said, โ€œI have compassion for those struggling with addiction โ€” Chelsea was born into addiction and it has been a painful journey for her and her four young children. We continue to love and support her through these horrible times. Prayers welcomed.โ€

Last year, authorities charged Chelsea with two counts of felony possession of methamphetamine and felony possession of narcotic drugs, along with two counts of possession/illegally obtaining prescription drugs and resisting or obstructing an officer. Her arrest followed a traffic stop in Niagara, Wisconsin, where officers pulled over a vehicle for loud exhaust โ€” they recovered a clear smoking device on Chelseaโ€™s person that tested positive for methamphetamine, and a prescription pill bottle containing a handful of pills and a crystal-like substance was found in her possession. At the time, Chelsea was out on bond for separate charges including child neglect and drug possession.

Oโ€™Donnellโ€™s Instagram post on December 3 responding to Chelseaโ€™s earlier arrest read: โ€œSo yes this is true โ€“ after being bailed out by her birth mother โ€“ Chelsea was arrested again โ€“ and is facing many charges related to her drug addiction โ€“ we all hope she is able to get the help she needs to turn her life around.โ€


Bring in the Trump context

Itโ€™s worth noting that Rosie Oโ€™Donnell has for years been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, and the public feud between them has become almost legendary. Back in December 2006, while hosting the daytime talk show The View, Oโ€™Donnell called Trump out over his handling of the Miss USA controversy and mocked him as no moral authority for young people โ€” saying, โ€œThis is not a self-made manโ€ฆ left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affairโ€ฆโ€ People.com+2The List+2

Trump responded with scorn, calling Oโ€™Donnell โ€œa woman out of controlโ€ and a โ€œloser,โ€ threatening legal action though he never followed through. People.com+1 Over the years he repeatedly used her name as a punchline โ€” during the 2016 Republican primary debate when asked about his language toward women he quipped, โ€œOnly Rosie Oโ€™Donnell.โ€ The New Daily+1

In recent years their feud escalated further: After Oโ€™Donnell announced she had moved to Ireland following Trumpโ€™s second inauguration (January 2025), Trump publicly floated the idea of revoking her U.S. citizenship, calling her โ€œa Threat to Humanityโ€ and saying โ€œshe should remain in the wonderful country of Ireland, if they want her.โ€

Campus Chaos Erupts At UC Berkeley Ahead Of Ending Tour by Turning Point USA

3

On Monday afternoon in Berkeley, a bloody confrontation broke out near the campus of the University of California, Berkeley as the conservative student-activist group Turning Point USA (TPUSA) held its final stop of the โ€œThis Is The Turning Pointโ€ tour. The event featured noted conservative voices Dr. Frank Turek and actor-activist Rob Schneider, and came just two months after the murder of TPUSAโ€™s founder, Charlie Kirk, at a campus event in Utah on Sept. 10.

According to video from Fox News Digital, the skirmish began around 4:30 p.m. PST. Two men were seen grappling in the altercation, with one suffering a serious facial injury and blood clearly visible. A mob of agitatorsโ€”many wearing keffiyehs and carrying left-wing protest signsโ€”surrounded the fight. The local police, including officers donning shields and batons, appeared challenged to regain control of the crowd.

The Berkeley Police Department reported at least two arrests by 6 p.m.โ€”one individual was arrested for battery. A university spokesperson clarified the brawl occurred off campus grounds and declined further comment.

Turek, in a recent interview ahead of the event, said he urged Kirk to make the Berkeley stop of the tour: โ€œIf I could go to any one event with him, it would be that oneโ€ฆ I wanted to go to UC Berkeley because it is so progressive and liberal in their views, and I wanted to provide evidence that Christianity was indeed true.โ€

As departure began, protesters reportedly surrounded all exits to the venue, heckled attendees, and shouted obscenities as they filtered out. It remains unclear how many individuals were injured in the fight.

Kirk, Trump & the Conservative Youth Movement
Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, with the mission of mobilizing conservative students on college campuses. His organization became a central pillar of conservative youth activism.

Kirkโ€™s relationship with Donald Trump evolved into a potent alignment:

  • Kirk was considered a key figure in helping Trump make inroads with younger voters, a segment Democrats long dominated.
  • He developed a direct line to the Trump orbit; multiple sources note that his influence extended beyond student activism into campaign strategy.

Kirkโ€™s impact on the GOPโ€™s youthful base, combined with his focus on campus organizing, made him a strategic asset to the Trump-aligned Republican coalition. As one analysis put it: โ€œKirkโ€™s efforts significantly contributed to Trumpโ€™s appeal among younger voters.โ€

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigatingย the protestsย at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, in the wake of several arrests at a Turning Point USA event.

โ€œWe saw all of this at Berkeley back in 2017. @UCBerkeley was sued, and settled the case,โ€ Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon wrote on the social platform X Tuesday, responding to another post claiming that โ€œAntifa has turned Turning Pointโ€™s event at UC Berkeley in California into an absolute WARZONE.โ€

โ€œThe @CivilRights will investigate what happened here, and I see several issues of serious concern regarding campus and local security and Antifaโ€™s ability to operate with impunity in CA,โ€ she added.

Republican Congressman Calls For Swift Investigation Following Disturbing Office Discovery

3

Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) is calling for a full investigation after a disturbing image surfaced showing what appeared to be an altered American flag โ€” twisted into a swastika โ€” displayed behind one of his staffers during a virtual meeting.

The image, first reported by Politico and amplified on social media by an Ohio blogger, quickly drew outrage. But Taylorโ€™s office says it may not be what it appears.

โ€œI am aware of an image that appears to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol near an employee in my office,โ€ Taylor said in a statement. โ€œThe content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms.โ€

Taylor emphasized that he acted immediately, directing Capitol Police to investigate what he described as a potentially malicious act.

โ€œUpon learning of this matter, I immediately directed a thorough investigation alongside Capitol Police, which remains ongoing,โ€ the statement continued.

A spokesperson for the congressman suggested the image might have been the result of โ€œfoul play or vandalism,โ€ not any endorsement of the offensive imagery by his staff. The photo appeared to show Angelo โ€œAJโ€ Elia, a legislative correspondent who joined Taylorโ€™s office in January, sitting at his cubicle with the doctored flag visible behind him.

Elia โ€” who recently earned a masterโ€™s degree in legislative affairs from George Washington University โ€” has not commented publicly. Taylorโ€™s office has not said whether any personnel actions have been taken while the investigation proceeds.

The controversy comes amid renewed scrutiny of conservative youth organizations after Politico reported on leaked Telegram messages allegedly showing racist and anti-Semitic comments from some Young Republican leaders. The timing of the leak, combined with the sudden surfacing of the photo from Taylorโ€™s office, has raised questions among some Republicans about whether politically motivated actors are attempting to smear conservatives ahead of the 2024 election cycle.

The image was first posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Ohio blogger DJ Byrnes, who claimed a friend had a Zoom meeting with Taylorโ€™s office and noticed the symbol. โ€œA friend in DC had a Zoom call with Congressman Dave Taylorโ€™s office today โ€ฆ Taylorโ€™s legislative correspondent, Angelo Elia, had what can only be described as an American swastika flag prominently displayed in his background,โ€ Byrnes wrote Wednesday.

Trump Vows Death Penalty For Nancy Guthrie Kidnappers

2

President Donald Trump said Monday that he would direct the Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty against those responsible for kidnapping Nancy Guthrie if the 84-year-old mother of โ€œTodayโ€ show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie is found dead.

In a brief phone interview with the New York Post, Trump made clear that the consequences would be โ€œvery, very severe โ€” the most severeโ€ if the abductors harm her. When asked directly whether the Justice Department would seek capital punishment in the case, the president responded, โ€œThe most, yeah โ€” thatโ€™s true.โ€

Guthrie was last seen on the night of Jan. 31 at her home outside Tucson, Arizona. She was reported missing the following day, and investigators believe she was taken against her will in what authorities are treating as a kidnapping.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to her location and/or the arrest and conviction of those involved. Surveillance images captured by Guthrieโ€™s doorbell camera show a suspect described as a man standing between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 with an average build. In footage released last week, the individual is seen wearing dark gloves, sweatpants, and a jacket, and carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.

The case has drawn national attention, not only because of the victimโ€™s age but also because of her daughterโ€™s public profile. Savannah Guthrie has been a longtime journalist and co-anchor of NBCโ€™s โ€œTodayโ€ show.

President Trump personally reached out to Savannah Guthrie on Feb. 4 to offer support and underscore the federal governmentโ€™s commitment to resolving the case. He later stated that he directed โ€œALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the familyโ€™s, and Local Law Enforcementโ€™s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely.โ€

On Friday, Trump said he believes โ€œprogress has been madeโ€ in the investigation.

Savannah Guthrie released a video Sunday urging anyone with information to come forward, saying, โ€œit is never too late to do the right thing, and we are here.โ€

As the investigation continues, federal and local authorities remain engaged in what the president has described as a full-scale effort to bring Nancy Guthrie home safely and hold those responsible accountable.

Escaped Louisiana Inmate Releases Video Pleading With Trump For Help: Watch

Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

A desperate plea for help…

The man identifying himself asย Antoine Massey, one of 10ย escapees fromย the Orleans Justice Center (OJC) last month, claimed he was โ€œlet outโ€ โ€” and showed papers to the camera in a viral video supposedly backing up his story. The men fled the jail through an opening behind a toilet. Graffiti was left near the point of escape that read, โ€œTo Easy LoL.โ€

Eight of the 10 men have been apprehended by authorities.

โ€œThey say that I broke out,โ€ he said. โ€œI didnโ€™t break out. I was let out.โ€

Massey claimed he has a signed affidavit clearing him of an assault charge, alleging the person who accused him of the assault swore previous statements given were false.

โ€œIf the individual depicted in the video is indeed Antoine Massey, we strongly urge him to come forward and turn himself in to the proper authorities,โ€ the Orleans parish sheriffโ€™s office said in a statement about the video. โ€œCooperating with law enforcement is in his best interest and may help avoid additional charges. It is important that justice is served appropriately and that due process is followed.โ€

Massey has a history of being on the run. According toย NOLA.com, Massey, 32, has made multiple escape attempts from detention centers dating back to 2007 when he was a minor.

Massey also sought help from rappers likeย Lil Wayneย andย Meek Millย when heโ€™s back in โ€œcustody.โ€ He denied allegations of threatening a maintenance worker as part of the latest escape. There is a $50,000 reward being offered for information leading to Masseyโ€™s arrest.

โ€œIโ€™m saying people that been through the system that know itโ€™s corrupt. Lil Wayne, Donald Trump, please, Iโ€™m asking for help. You know what Iโ€™m saying?โ€ he said.

Anarchist Arrested In Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting Top Government Official

5

A 29-year-old man has been arrested for what federal authorities describe as a brazen โ€œmurder-for-hireโ€ online plot targeting the U.S. Attorney General.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Minnesota resident Tyler Maxon Avalos was taken into custody on October 16 after a tipster notified them of his alleged TikTok post offering a $45,000 bounty on the life of Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General.

The post reportedly featured Ms. Bondiโ€™s photo with a red target icon over her forehead and the caption: โ€œWANTED: Pam Bondi / REWARD: 45,000 DEAD OR ALIVE (PREFERABLY DEAD). Beneath the image: โ€˜Cough cough. When they donโ€™t serve us, then what?โ€™โ€

Court filings reveal Avalos used the handle โ€œWackoโ€ on TikTok and had references to an โ€œAn Anarchist FAQ bookโ€ in his profile. Authorities further noted his criminal history of violence: a July 2022 felony stalking conviction in Dakota County (Minnesota), an August 2016 felony third-degree domestic battery charge in Polk County, Florida, and an April 2016 misdemeanor domestic assault in Dakota County (originally a felony domestic assault by strangulation). The affidavit describes media concerns that Avalos has โ€œanarchist ties,โ€ though the FBI has not publicly confirmed a full motive.

Federal prosecutors say Avalos now faces a charge of interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person โ€” a federal crime carrying potentially years in prison. His attorney, Daniel Gerdts, stated only that his client โ€œis not guilty of any crime.โ€

Recent incidents of violence targeting Republican or conservative figures

While the Bondi case is extraordinary, it aligns with a growing body of incidents in which political actors โ€” particularly those associated with the Republican side โ€” have been targeted:

  • In September 2024, at least one apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump (the Republican former-President and leading 2024 nominee) was reported.
  • More broadly, an analysis by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) found that between 2016 and 2025 there were 25 attacks and plots targeting elected officials, candidates, judges and other government figures motivated by extremist partisan beliefs โ€” more than triple the number in the previous 25 years combined.
  • While some of the high-profile cases involve Democratic officials (for example, the June 2025 shootings of Minnesota legislators), the broader trend applies across the ideological spectrum: violence is trending upward, not just against one side but throughout governmentโ€”and conservatives are explicitly among the targets.

Polls & studies confirm the spike in political violence

The Bondi bounty scheme emerges against a backdrop of disturbing data indicating rising public concern and creeping acceptance of politically motivated violence:

Other surveys show that while majorities condemn political violence, many believe it will increase. For example, a CBS News poll found that people of all parties overwhelmingly find political violence unacceptable โ€” yet they are concerned it will escalate.

A recent study found that 86 % of Americans believe political violence is either a major or minor problem โ€” the highest in two years. When asked whether political violence has increased over the past few years, 78 % said yes.

A Pew Research Center-sponsored survey found that Americans believe politically-motivated violence is increasing, and that polarization is seen as a key cause.

A PBS/NPR/Marist poll found that nearly one-third of Americans now believe political violence may be necessary to set the country back on track โ€” up from 19 % about a year and a half earlier.

Other surveys show that while majorities condemn political violence, many believe it will increase. For example, a CBS News poll found that people of all parties overwhelmingly find political violence unacceptable โ€” yet they are concerned it will escalate.