Was DeLay's threat a crime?

[Guest trancepriest]

Tom DeLay won't say what he meant when he said Thursday that "the time will come for the men responsible" for the death of Terri Schiavo "to answer for their behavior." But New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg has a pretty good idea of what DeLay meant -- and he says DeLay's threats may have amounted to a felony.

In a letter sent today to DeLay, Lautenberg said he was "stunned to read the threatening comments" DeLay had directed at "federal judges and our nation's courts of law in general."

"As you are surely aware, the family of Federal Judge Joan H. Lefkow of Illinois was recently murdered in their home," Lautenberg wrote. "And at the state level, Judge Rowland W. Barnes and others in his courtroom were gunned down in Georgia.

"Our nation’s judges must be concerned for their safety and security when they are asked to make difficult decisions every day. That’s why comments like those you made are not only irresponsible, but downright dangerous. To make matters worse, is it appropriate to make threats directed at specific federal and state judges? You should be aware that your comments yesterday may violate a federal criminal statute, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 115 (a)(1)(. That law states:

"'Whoever threatens to assault…. or murder, a United States judge… with intent to retaliate against such… judge…. on account of the performance of official duties, shall be punished [by up to six years in prison].'

"Threats against specific federal judges are not only a serious crime, but also beneath a member of Congress. In my view, the true measure of democracy is how it dispenses justice. Your attempt to intimidate judges in America not only threatens our courts, but our fundamental democracy as well.

"Federal judges, as well as state and local judges in our nation, are honorable public servants who make difficult decisions every day. You owe them – and all Americans – an apology for your reckless statements."

The Hammer has not yet responded.

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LOL... now the Republicans want to get rid of the judiciary.. both on the State and Federal levels.. lol. I can see the brown shirts coming now.

[Guest JMT]

where is the threat to the judges? read over it a few times and i sure dont see one. pretty weak.

[Guest tres-b]

I just dont see the threat here.

[Guest slamminshaun]

There's no threat there. I think it is amusing and brings to light yet another hypocritical point by liberals. If anyone has attacked judges, or potential judges, in this country lately it is the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.

From what I've seen on the news lately, it appears its the Democrats who want judges and potential judges to be "responsible, and answer for past behavior". Now all of a sudden, saying such a thing is a threat? But its ok to tear down and attack all the judges that are nominated for judiciary positions when George W. Bush endorses them. If Delay is guilty of threatening and attacking judges, then Ted Kennedy takes the cake. How many judges' lives has Ted Kennedy ruined? If you ask me, he's the true felon.