CT Lawmaker Threatened On Twitter Over School Vaccination Stance

CHESHIRE, CT — State Rep. Liz Linehan, a Democrat representing Cheshire, Southington and Wallingford, has reported a threatening tweet she said was directed at her children to the state Capitol Police. The tweet, which has been deleted, was sent to Linehan on Wednesday night and was related to Linehan’s support of vaccinations for all school children, according to the Hartford Courant. Linehan is the House chair of the Committee on Children.

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would end religious exemptions from vaccinations for public school students. The Courant reports the since-deleted tweet was directed at Linehan and Rep. Matt Ritter, saying “I want to enlighten you” and referred to their children as Satan’s spawn, although they spelled Satan wrong.

Linehan wrote in response, “Threatening our children will get you nothing, except a visit from the @CTCapitolPolice. I take this seriously, and so do they. This will not be tolerated and I will be filing a report tomorrow.”

Linehan also wrote about the issue on her Facebook page, saying “Let me be perfectly clear. Threats against my children are reported to the police immediately. The Capitol Police are currently investigating the latest threat, and I have great trust in their ability to protect our safety. Threatening my children will get you a visit from the police, but it will NOT deter me, it only strengthens my resolve.”

The Education Committee approved a bill earlier this week that alerts school nurses of their rights regarding signing off on religious exemption forms and the state Department of Public Health is expected to release information on the state’s vaccination rates Friday, according to the Connecticut Post.