'Shoot to kill': Man proclaiming America is at 'war' threatened to murder Dem congressman

A Pennsylvania man has been arrested on Capitol Hill for allegedly making murder threats against Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA).

According to a police affidavit obtained by CBS News' Scott MacFarlane, the man, who was arrested while trying to get through security screening at the Russell Senate Office Building, was only thwarted from his plot "to locate & potentially assault or kill... because he was denied entry... due to his suitcase being too large to bring inside."

The suspect, per police, "has a history of emailing a Congressional office, as well as various government officials and law enforcement agencies."

The man reportedly told police that his actions were justified because "You can defend yourself in a war, including to shoot to kill."

According to staffers in Garcia's office, "Congressman Garcia is in California and is safe. We are grateful to the US Capitol Police & the House Sgt at Arms for their swift action."

Garcia, being the ranking Democratic member on the House Oversight Committee, has become a prominent figure nationwide and has therefore been subject to more threats from violent extremists.

This incident marks the latest in a long string of violent threats against members of Congress and other politicians, some of the most high-profile being the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the arson attack on the home of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro by an anti-Israel activist. According to MacFarlane, there have been more threats against members of Congress so far this year than the entirety of 2024.