How top congressional aides are addressing increased fears they have for safety

Now in his 12th year as a U.S. House aide, Mitchell Rivard acknowledges he’s increasingly worried about the harassment and threats against his colleagues — much more so than in the past.   

Rivard, the chief of staff to Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan, said some of the calls made to his congressional office are at times so intimidating and so threatening that he tries to intervene to spare junior staffers from the hostility of the callers.

He said he now advises his staff to transfer these calls to his cellphone and to forward any threatening messages to him.  

“If they’re raising their voice, they’re using inappropriate language or if they’re making you uncomfortable, transfer them directly to me,” Rivard told CBS News he has told his colleagues.

Rivard says he and a group of his fellow top House aides have held meetings about how to handle the toxic atmosphere of this political moment, which has seen a surge in the number of threats against members of Congress and their offices.   

“The atmosphere in Congress wasn’t amazing when Congressman Kildee got here, but it certainly hasn’t gotten any better,” Rivard said. “When it comes to safety and security, I have to think constantly and frequently much more than I ever had before.”

A survey of dozens of top congressional aides conducted by the nonprofit Congressional Management Foundation reveals large majorities are feeling “anxiety and/or fear” about the safety of working in their jobs, and concerns about threats against Members of Congress during events and public appearance. 

The survey, completed by 138 top congressional aides, showed a larger percentage of longer-tenured aides and female staffers were mostly likely to acknowledge fears of safety because of their jobs. Among the findings of the report: 70% of staffers said they have experienced “direct insulting or threatening messages or communications” while on the job. Nearly three out of four Senate staffers said they had frequently experienced anxiety about the safety of members of Congress.

And 38% of longtime aides — including women and those who’ve worked in congressional offices for longer than 11 years — question whether they should leave their jobs now due to safety concerns.  

The foundation’s study said Democratic respondents were more likely to report anxieties than Republicans, even though incidents of harassing and threatening messages were reported broadly by staffers of both parties. 

“Jan. 6 was still looming in many people’s minds,” said Bradley Fitch, president of the Congressional Management Foundation and a former top congressional aide. “The death threats that are coming into offices haven’t abated,” Fitch said. “This is a disturbing trend. I was just working with some interns last week, and it was shocking to me the number of death threats that they’ve received.”

“The front door swung open…”

Last week, a Florida man pleaded guilty to a federal charge for making phone threats against Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and his children. According to a signed plea agreement, Michael Shapiro acknowledged calling Swalwell’s office and leaving a message that said, “I’m gonna come and kiil your children you mother-f*****. I’m gonna kill your children.”

Prosecutors and defense attorneys noted Shapiro’s claim that he was angered about Swalwell and intoxicated when leaving the message, according to the plea agreement.  

“When played an audio recording of a threatening…