Rep. King Gets Threatening Phone Calls Before Islam Hearings

In a chilling development before his hearings Thursday on Islam in America, Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., has received numerous threatening phone calls, some from overseas. The calls have spurred increased police protection for the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, The Hill reports.

King says he feels perfectly safe and will go ahead with the hearing. “There were some threats from overseas and a number of other remarks,” he told The Hill. “Whatever threat analysis police have done, they believe I warrant security. I don’t ask for it, and I certainly don’t turn away any security that police think I should have. I leave it up to them.”

While some in Washington have said the hearing itself may motivate terrorists, King says it’s important anyway to inform the public and encourage Muslim Americans to fight terrorism.