Freshman congressman receives death threats

Rep. Markwayne Mullin's chief of staff doesn't specify nature of threats

Author: By Diane Ruggiero CNN
Published On: Jan 20 2013 06:19:00 AM PST   Updated On: Jan 20 2013 06:58:38 AM PST
Markwayne Mullin
(CNN) -

Death threats have been made against freshman Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), his wife and children, according to a statement by his chief of staff Karl Ahlgren.

Ahlgren said law enforcement authorities consider the threats to be a "serious matter due to the content and nature of the threatening letters which were received."

Precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of Mullin's wife and children, Ahlgren added. He did not specify the nature of the threats, or the potential motivation behind them.

U.S. Capitol Police Public Information Officer Shennell Antrobus added that his department was looking "with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local law enforcement, into this matter."

Elected in November with 57% of the vote, Mullin represents Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional district, which includes a wide swath of the state's eastern section. His was sworn into office January 3, and has cast a few votes thus far, including voting "no" on emergency funding for states affected by Superstorm Sandy.

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