PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – South Florida Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz is opening up about a threat against his life. The Margate man accused of targeting him appeared in federal court for the first time.
We now know the man accused of targeting him had also allegedly named local Jewish institutions as targets. Moskowitz is talking about it all for the first time, making clear the need to protect and secure members of Congress at home.
“It’s scary, especially when your 11-year-old comes home and says his friends said, ‘Hey, I heard someone tried to hurt your dad,’” Moskowitz said.
Moskowitz revealed there were other Jewish targets, though he was the only person named in the manifesto found among the weapons and ammunition in the home of felon John Lapinski two weeks ago. Lapinski is now in federal custody.
“When we are here in D.C., capitol police do a great job. But when we are in our districts, we are soft targets. This is something that is well-known among Democrats and Republicans,” Moskowitz said.
Targets are increasingly for political reasons and more relevant for Congressman Moskowitz, who is Jewish, targets of rising anti-Semitism.
“One thing that very fringe left people and very fringe right people agree on is their hatred of Jews. We seem to be the one thing they have in common,” he noted.
The congressman was the one to make public the threat to his life in a tweet, revealing what police had shared with him: the weapons, body armor, and the anti-Semitic manifesto.
“The only reason I brought this up publicly is because I want the speaker to start addressing member safety,” Moskowitz stated.
You can see the full conversation with Moskowitz this upcoming Sunday on “This Week in South Florida.”