'Need better public servants': Lisa Monaco mocked as Deputy AG claims threats to officials are soaring in the US

WASHINGTON, DC: During an interview that aired on ABC's ‘This Week’ on Sunday, December 24, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated that the Justice Department is experiencing an 'unprecedented rise' in threats against public officials, prosecutors, law enforcement agents, and judges.

According to a report by POLITICO, Monaco said she receives reports on a weekly basis, sometimes more frequently, regarding such threats.

Monaco reported that just the week prior, cases involving threats to kill FBI agents, a Supreme Court justice, and three presidential candidates have been identified, however, she did not disclose the identities of these targets.

What did the US Deputy Attorney General say in her interview?

ABC’s chief Justice correspondent, Pierre Thomas asked Monaco, “I know you don't want to talk about any particular candidate, but when people are using words like ‘poison the blood’ and calling DOJ officials ‘thugs’, is that helpful?" — alluding to Trump’s repeated remarks on the campaign trail, though not overtly naming the former president.

“Well, of course it’s not helpful,” Monaco replied. “I get something called urgent reports. These are reports that come in from the field, from U.S. Attorneys all across the country, and on a weekly basis, sometimes more often, I am getting reports about threats to public officials, threats to our prosecutors, threats to law enforcement agents who work in the Justice Department, threats to judges.”

She continued, “In fact, just this week, just this week, Pierre, we've had cases involving threats to kill FBI agents, a Supreme Court justice, and three presidential candidates. Three. That's just this week.”

The source of the threats has shifted since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in 2001, according to Monaco.

The security apparatus of the United States was then focused on operations from foreign terrorist organizations.

However, nowadays individuals or small groups that have been radicalized online by national crises or international terrorist organizations are the 'most worried about' topics for them.

Threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab Americans have also increased in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack, according to Monaco.

"Since Oct. 7, the FBI has received more than 1,800 reports of threats or other types of tips or leads that are somehow related to or have a nexus to the current conflict in Israel and Gaza," Monaco said, but many of them have been addressed without incident.

Internet reacts as Monaco evokes concern for the safety of US government officials

People on X (formerly Twitter) slammed the Deputy Attorney General’s concerns and blamed the public servants themselves who’ve received backlash to any action, or decision they took that was unpopular.

One X user wrote: "Americans need better public servants."

Another user stated: "Governments should be petrified of the people, not vice versa"

"Americans upset that our country is in chaos?" another user asked snarkily.

One user remarked: "People don't threaten officials that actually do their jobs..."

Another X user said: "Public officials are Public servants. They forgot this and need to be reminded."

Finally, this user tweeted: "Americans don't like tyranny. Public officials take note."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.