Thomas Phippen, DCNF

Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks says the flood of departing GOP members of Congress this year might be related to fear of “assassination risk” from violent “leftists” following the deadly shooting attack on the Republican’s baseball practice in 2017.

“One of the things that’s concerning me is the assassination risk may become a factor,” Brooks said in a radio interview with the Dale Jackson Show.

Brooks was speaking about the first congressional baseball practice Thursday, the first time the team had practiced at the Simpson field in Alexandria, Va., since the June attack that wounded six, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.

“You have to wonder with that kind of disproportionate retirement number whether what happened in June played a factor,” Brooks said.

“I don’t think any of these people who are retiring would say that, but just looking at the numbers,” Brooks said. “That’s out of whack.”

Some members of the Republican baseball team are among the 47 Republican officials retiring, resigning or seeking other office this term, including Reps. Ryan Costello, Pat Meehan, Dennis Ross and Tom Rooney and Sen. Jeff Flake

Leftist rhetoric is becoming increasingly threatening, Brooks said, pointing out that in the last month, three people had been arrested for allegedly threatening Virginia Republican Reps. Scott Taylor and Tom Garrett and Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey. An Arizona man also pleaded guilty to threatening to shoot Arizona Rep. Martha McSally.

“Notice a trend here?” Brooks said. “I have a congressman who is a friend here who has a three-year old daughter whose daughter was threatened with murder.”

“There are a growing number of leftists who believe the way to resolve this is not at the ballot box but through threats and sometimes through violence and assassinations,” Brooks said.

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