New York’s Peter King, the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has been receiving threatening phone calls as he begins his investigation into the threat posed by homegrown Muslim radicals.
“There were some threats from overseas and a number of other remarks,” King 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.”
King will receive extra security from the New York Police Department and Nassau County law enforcement. He said that, despite the threats, the hearings would proceed as scheduled.
Administration officials and Democratic lawmakers have been extremely critical of the hearings, and House Speaker John Boehner has declined to offer much support for the 10-term congressman’s investigation. A Boehner spokesman who was asked last month about opposition to the hearings declined to endorse the proceedings, saying only, “Representative King is chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.”