In a distressing turn of events, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold finds herself at the center of a barrage of death threats and violence from fervent supporters of former President Donald Trump. The alarming situation follows Colorado’s successful legal challenge to Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 presidential ballot, a move that has triggered a wave of aggression against Griswold.
The onslaught, reported by Inquisitr on Friday, December 22, 2023, has left Griswold deeply concerned, drawing parallels to the aftermath of Trump’s incitement of the January 6 insurrection. Speaking with HuffPost, Griswold expressed her apprehension, stating, “I’ve been concerned about violence and threats of violence since Donald Trump incited the insurrection.”
The catalyst for these threats emerged from the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to remove Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot under the 14th Amendment’s prohibition on insurrectionists. Despite Griswold’s indirect involvement in the legal case, having been included as the secretary of state, she has faced an alarming surge in threats.
Six Republican and unaffiliated voters initiated the action in September, with the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics organization in Washington spearheading the effort. Griswold clarified her role, asserting, “I did not file this case. I’m part of this case because I’m the secretary of state.”
Griswold revealed the intensity of the threats, stating, “Within three weeks of it being filed, I received 64 death threats and over 900 non-lethal threats of abuse. I stopped counting after that.”
Despite the challenges, Griswold stands firm in support of the court’s decision, emphasizing, “The provision in the Constitution to stop insurrectionists from holding office is there for a reason. Trump incited the insurrection. There shouldn’t be a loophole that allows a president to violate the oath of office and be on the ballot again.”
The threat atmosphere extends beyond Griswold, encompassing the justices of the Colorado Supreme Court, who are also facing violent threats on various social media platforms, according to CBS News. Threats compiled and analyzed by the nonpartisan group Advance Democracy reveal a disturbing trend.
Some posts advocate for followers to arm themselves and wage a civil war against Democrats, while others call for the execution of judges and Trump’s opponents through shooting, hanging, or bombing. The justices, all Democrats, now contend with threats ranging from calls for their arrest to ominous suggestions about their demise.
In the face of this disturbing reality, Griswold remains resolute. Despite acknowledging the difficulty of navigating such a threatening environment, she refuses to be intimidated, declaring, “I will not be intimidated. We cannot allow these people trying to steal elections and using rhetoric to incite violence… to not be opposed with the truth. I’ll be as smart as possible with my security issues, but I am not going to be intimidated by Donald Trump or anybody else on the MAGA right.”
The severity of these threats, including references to sending justices to Guantanamo and a desire for their demise, emphasizes the escalating tensions and challenges faced by public figures in the current political climate.
