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State Senator Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) called Democrats “Snowflakes” after news broke Wednesday that gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe received a death threat. “These snowflake Democrats whine and cry about threats yet are the first to restrict law abiding citizens 2nd amendment right to defend themselves and then defund the police,” Chase said in a tweet.
The threat that Chase referenced was sent by email to McAuliffe earlier this week. “If I get the opportunity I will shoot Terry! – MAGA,” the email read in its entirety.
Virginia State Police confirmed Wednesday that they were investigating the incident and that protection was provided for McAuliffe at his campaign stop in Charlottesville that day.
A source with knowledge of the situation says that authorities interviewed someone in the Williamsburg area that allegedly sent the email and that Secret Service has been notified ahead of Thursday night’s visit from Vice President Kamala Harris to stump for McAuliffe.
McAuliffe’s press secretary Renzo Olivari responded to Chase shortly after on Twitter. “This is sadly what we have come to expect from Donald Trump and his supporters,” Olivari said. “Glenn Youngkin needs to immediately denounce his top surrogate for these horrific comments about a death threat.”
In a statement Wednesday, Youngkin’s campaign denounced political threats. “Political violence is a threat to our democracy and is absolutely unacceptable,” said Macaulay Porter, a spokeswoman for Youngkin.
McAuliffe and Youngkin are locked into a tight race with only 12 days until election day. A poll released on Wednesday shows a 46-46 tie among registered voters, a sharp contrast to the 10 point win that Joe Biden had in Virginia last year.
Election day is Nov. 2.
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