WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan received a profanity-laced voicemail threatening his life and that of his family and staff, criticizing his support for the bipartisan infrastructure bill last week.
In the voicemail, obtained by NBC News from his office, a caller told Upton, "I hope you die. I hope everybody in your f------ family dies," while labeling him a "traitor."
Last week, Upton was one of 13 House Republican members who voted with most Democrats for the $555 billion infrastructure bill. It was also reported that GOP leaders are bracing for calls for the 13 to be stripped of committee assignments for stepping off the party line.
The Detroit News, who first published the profanity-laced voicemail, reported that Upton has received numerous death threats since his vote, which was confirmed by his office. Upton told the newspaper the calls started after his Republican colleague, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, publicly posted the names and phone numbers of Upton and a dozen other GOP House members who voted in support of the bill, calling them "traitors."
The caller equates Upton's vote with voting for President Joe Biden, whom the caller also insults.
"It’s tragic, especially if it leads to violence. This is not what our kids and families ought to be seeing," Upton told The Detroit News. "It’s just a polarized, toxic environment. Worse than I’ve ever seen before."
