GOP rep temporarily closes Georgia office over security concerns

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said he will temporarily shutter his district office in the city of Cumming after his staff experienced “serious threats of violence.”

“I take the safety of my team seriously,” McCormick posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “I am temporarily closing my physical district office location in Cumming, GA due to serious threats of violence against my staff.”

The representative said the threats have been reported to U.S. Capitol Police and will be “investigated fully.”

“We will still be working for you remotely so reach out to my staff if you have any needs,” he said in his post. “Proud to serve you all.”

McCormick did not provide specifics of the threats.

However, he has been at the center of recent resolutions that involve the Israel-Hamas war.

Last week, McCormick voted to hold off on a resolution introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for her comments criticizing Israel.

McCormick said he opposed the language of Greene’s resolution, which accuses Tlaib of “leading an insurrection at the United States Capitol.” The measure also charged Tlaib with “antisemitic activity” and “sympathizing with terrorist organizations.”

McCormick’s office told The Hill that he wanted to tweak the “insurrection” language in Greene’s resolution, but her office was not interested in working together to revise the legislation.

McCormick then filed his own measure; he and Greene each called their censure measures to the floor Monday.

“Let me start by being clear that this is not a First Amendment issue. Rashida Tlaib has the right to spew antisemitic vitriol and even call for the destruction of the Jewish State,” McCormick posted earlier Tuesday. “But the House of Representatives also has a right to make it clear that her hate speech does not reflect the opinion of the chamber, and that is what my resolution is about.”

Tlaib was at the center of more controversy over the weekend for posting comments online that claimed President Biden “supported the genocide of the Palestinian people,” and using the phrase “from the river to the sea,” which has been deemed antisemitic by the Anti-Defamation League.

The Michigan Democrat is the only Palestinian American member of Congress. The House advanced a resolution to censure Tlaib on Tuesday, setting up a final vote Wednesday on legislation that will penalize her for her criticism of Israel.