WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) announced late Wednesday that her congressional offices were evacuated due to imminent death threats against her and her family.
The threats reportedly stemmed from a Wall Street Journal story about her experience with an ectopic pregnancy last year.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Cammack revealed that the threats began after she shared her personal story, which highlighted how doctors were hesitant to treat her life-threatening ectopic pregnancy due to concerns over Florida’s strict six-week abortion ban.
She attributed the medical hesitance to what she called “fearmongering” by opponents of the state’s abortion law.
Threats and Backlash
Cammack’s post on X stated that she and her team had received “thousands of hate-filled messages” and “dozens of credible threats” from pro-abortion activists, with law enforcement actively investigating the situation. She included screenshots of several threatening comments in her post.
“To those spreading misinformation: I did not vote for Florida’s heartbeat law; I serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, not the Florida Legislature,” Cammack clarified in her post.
The Incident with Her Ectopic Pregnancy
In the Wall Street Journal article, Cammack explained how, when she was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, doctors in the emergency room were reluctant to perform the necessary procedure to treat her condition due to fear of violating Florida’s restrictive abortion laws.
The incident underscored growing concerns about how states’ abortion bans and the reversal of Roe v. Wade have created confusion and hesitation among healthcare providers when dealing with pregnancy complications, including ectopic pregnancies.
An ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition where an embryo implants outside the uterus, and it requires immediate medical intervention. Florida law, while banning most abortions, does allow exceptions for medical emergencies like ectopic pregnancies.
However, the vagueness surrounding these exceptions has created a chilling effect, where providers may fear facing legal consequences even in situations where their actions are clearly needed to protect the health and life of the mother.
Read Also: Advocacy Groups Urge California Governor to Commute All Death Row Sentences
Florida’s Stance on Ectopic Pregnancies
In response to the increasing concerns, Florida state regulators issued a statement last year confirming that abortion is permissible at any stage of pregnancy in the state if it is necessary to save the life or health of the mother, including in cases involving ectopic pregnancies.
However, as Cammack’s story shows, the fear of legal repercussions continues to be a barrier for both patients and medical providers, especially in states with restrictive abortion laws.
Growing Threats Against Public Officials
Cammack’s evacuation of her offices is part of a broader trend of growing threats against public officials, including lawmakers, judges, and prosecutors. Federal law enforcement agencies have reported a significant increase in such threats in recent years.
According to the U.S. Capitol Police, the agency investigated 9,474 “concerning statements and direct threats” last year against lawmakers, their families, and staff members.
What’s Next for Rep. Cammack
While the investigation into the threats continues, Cammack’s office did not specify which congressional offices were evacuated.
What Do You Think?
Do you think lawmakers and public officials should take stronger action against the increasing number of threats to their safety? How can the government address concerns over abortion laws and medical care in a post-Roe environment? Share your thoughts in the comments below on RidgecrestPact.org.
