The FBI and local authorities are investigating a severed propane gas line at the home of Bo Perriello, the older brother of Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Charlottesville. Officials have deemed the incident as a "deliberate act of vandalism," which may have resulted as possible retribution for the representative's vote in favor of health care reform, mistakenly targeted at his brother.
In addition to the severed line, Bo Perriello received a threatening piece of mail the same day.
The attacks are believed to have originated with an Internet post by a member of the conservative Tea Party group, a nationwide political organization. Tea Party member Nigel Coleman posted Bo Perriello's address on his Facebook page after the passage of the health care initiative, stating that he was not "holding back anymore!!"
Though the party's main support base tends to consist of older members of the population, many colleges such as the University of Missouri and Texas A&M University have chapters.\nPerriello released a statement Wednesday asking for all congressmen to condemn reprisals toward politicians or their families.
"It is never OK to harm or threaten elected officials and their families with anything more than political retribution," Perriello said. "Here in America, we settle our political differences at the ballot box."
"[Health care] has definitely been the most contentious issue that this Congress has dealt with," said Isaac Wood, assistant communications director for the Center of Politics and former Cavalier Daily opinion columnist. "I certainly hope that cooler heads have prevailed and that people have gotten the message that these sorts of acts are untenable and only hurt your cause."
Several other instances of violence or intimidation attempts against congressional democrats have occurred since the legislation passed, including bricks thrown through the office windows of democratic leaders and racial slurs hurled at members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Perriello spokesperson Jessica Barba said police officers had not uncovered any further leads as of this time and that Perriello would wait to see the outcome of the investigation before deciding whether to pursue legal action. Barba also said Perriello criticized Republicans on Capitol Hill for not strongly condemning violence, but praised those who did so.
Perriello gained office in 2008 by upsetting Republican incumbent Virgil Goode. The representative will be up for re-election this fall.
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