Elector Receives Violent Death Threats
Michigan elector Michael Banerian wants to cast his vote for Donald Trump, but says he’s been overwhelmed with thousands of emails, Facebook messages, letters and even death threats since the billionaire businessman won the election.
“I’ve had people that have been talking about putting a bullet in the back of my mouth, burning myself and my family, sending pictures of nooses saying if I don’t vote for Hillary Clinton, they’ll get me,” he told the FOX Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo.
Banerian, whose number and email address were listed publically, said most of the harassing letters came from groups in California and New York.
“I just think it’s funny that these people think their opinions are somehow something I’m more beholden to than the millions of Michigan voters who sent the message that they want Donald Trump and Mike Pence as their next President and Vice President,” he said.
While he thinks there’s “divisiveness on both sides,” Banerian said the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton are to blame for the reaction.
“Hillary Clinton not just called Trump and the Republican supporters deplorable but she said we were irredeemably so. She said the enemy she was most proud of was Republicans,” he said. “When you talk like that she’s not only demonizing Republicans, but she’s dehumanizing us, and doing that enables these people.”
Banerian said he has filed a police report on some of the death threats and they’re currently being investigated.
“They’ve been able to track some of those people down and have a stern talk with them, other than it it’s an open investigation,” he said.
He added that the Michigan Attorney General’s Office has reached out and offered him support.
Banerian along with 15 other electors will officially cast their vote for President and Vice President of the United States in Lasing, Michigan on Monday.