Rep. Adam Smith, the lead Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, revealed in an interview that he has been unable to hold a town hall meeting for over a year due to threats from anti-Israel activists.
Smith, a senior House Democrat, made the claim in an interview, stating that a group of leftists have been showing up to his events, screaming at him and preventing others from speaking.
He described the situation as "illiberal," citing instances where protesters stood outside his house, screaming death threats and threatening his wife.
Smith has previously condemned far-left activists who vandalized his home in 2023 over his support for Israel, including spray-painting "baby killer" on his garage doors.
He also recounted attending a hearing at the University of Washington, where pro-Israel speakers were shouted down by far-left activists during a debate on divesting from the Jewish state.
According to Smith, the incident has created a major problem, making it difficult to have an intellectual discussion.
Smith also spoke about how the left has dubbed him a "Trump supporter" for pushing respectful debate, and he held up socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an example of civility on the left.
The Washington Democrat is not the only member of the House Democratic Caucus who has faced harassment from anti-Israel activists, with Rep. Dan Goldman experiencing similar treatment in June.
Goldman, who is Jewish, lost reelection to Brad Lander, a Mamdani-backed challenger, who put criticism of the Jewish state at the center of his campaign.
