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Police Investigate Threats Against Hallquist

Christine Hallquist delivered a victory speech Tuesday night after easily securing the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Hallquist hopes to become the first candidate in more than 50 years to unseat an incumbent governor.
Peter Hirschfeld
/
VPR
Christine Hallquist delivered a victory speech Tuesday night after easily securing the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Hallquist hopes to become the first candidate in more than 50 years to unseat an incumbent governor.

Democratic candidate for governor Christine Hallquist is receiving threats of violence after her historic victory in last week’s primary.

Hallquist, the first openly transgender person to win a major party gubernatorial nomination, generated headlines around the world with her win last Tuesday.

Hallquist’s communications director, David Glidden, said the attention has not all been positive.

“I mean, we get tons and tons of hateful messages,” Glidden said. “The ones that involve violence are probably less than one a day, or about one a day.”

It’s those threats that involve violence that have become of most concern to the Hallquist campaign, according to Glidden.

Vermont State Police are now investigating several threatening emails, social media messages and phone calls.

“Christine and I had a meeting with them last night to go over sort of options now and should this escalate, ... should actionable threats start coming in, things like that,” Glidden said.

Adam Silverman, the public information officer with Vermont State Police, said the agency is working on two fronts now.

“One is investigating the threats themselves, and then two is ensuring the candidate’s safety,” Silverman said.

Silverman said he’s not at liberty to disclose the security measures that have been taken by Vermont State Police on Hallquist’s behalf.

“But what I can say, generally speaking, is that we're working in consultation with the campaign,” Silverman said. “If they feel that there is a need for security, then they would make that request of us.”

Silverman said many of the threats likely originated from outside Vermont, and that federal law enforcement authorities are helping with the investigation.

“Certainly we’re working with the FBI … Once you get outside of Vermont, that’s not a Vermont State Police matter anymore,” Silverman said.

Glidden said the threats weren’t a surprise: "We unfortunately knew it was likely coming."

But, Glidden said, the threats have not impeded campaign operations.

Copyright 2018 Vermont Public Radio

Peter Hirschfeld covers state government and the Vermont Legislature. He is based in VPR’s Capital Bureau located across the street from Vermont’s Statehouse.
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