INDIANAPOLIS — Police are investigating a threat made toward the headquarters of the Indiana Democratic Party, a threat that comes ahead of Wednesday’s presidential inauguration and less than two weeks after gunfire at a local party office.
The nature of the threat made toward the Indianapolis headquarters of the state party was not disclosed, nor did Democratic officials say when it was made. The threat comes as security remains heightened across the country following the deadly Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol that followed a rally held by supporters of outgoing President Trump. The president’s supporters falsely claimed the election was “stolen," and hundreds of them overran police and stormed the Capitol as Congress was conducting the final certification of the win by President-elect Joe Biden. Security has been tightened at every state capitol, including the Indiana Statehouse, due to talk of protests during Biden’s inauguration.
The morning after the Washington riots, police say someone fired gunshots into the headquarters of the Tippecanoe County Democratic Party in Lafayette. The shots were fired into the glass front door and through a front window. No one was inside the building at the time, and no arrests have been made.
John Zody, the outgoing chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, declined to talk about specifics of the latest threat, instead issuing the following statement.
“Since the insurrection against our nation and the gun violence at Tippecanoe County Democratic Party headquarters, the Indiana Democratic Party has been steadfast in its call for all local and state leaders to condemn any violence against our communities. The U.S. Constitution and democracy itself is vital to the success of our nation, and all parties who do not believe in these American values must be held accountable. But until that happens, we ask all Hoosiers to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.”
