SCRANTON, Pa. — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan and his fiancée, Chelsea Strub, are facing a wave of threats and harassment online just days before their wedding.
According to Bresnahan’s spokesperson, Hannah Pope, harassing and threatening comments were posted to a wedding-themed website created by a member of Strub’s family. Among the most concerning was a message reading, “Be seeing you soon!” and signed “Luigi” — an apparent reference to Luigi Magione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO earlier this year.
Pope said the threats have been persistent, noting that a former Bresnahan staffer pleaded guilty earlier this year to sending threatening emails. The latest incidents have been reported to U.S. Capitol Police.
In a statement, Strub expressed concern for her guests’ safety.
“Rob and I knew what we signed up for when he decided to run for Congress to fight for Northeastern Pennsylvania. But our wedding guests didn’t sign up for these threats, and now their safety is at risk because far-left extremists have decided to politicize our wedding,” she said. “These are the same people who openly admit that ‘there needs to be blood’ and are posting death threats on our wedding website. There is a clear line when it comes to basic decency, and this crosses it.”
Pope also said tensions rose last week after someone at a town hall suggested protesting the wedding.
The Republican Party of Luzerne County condemned the threats in a post on its website, stating: “Harassing and threatening Congressman Bresnahan and his fiancée before their wedding is beyond disgusting. Disagree on politics, but death threats? Absolutely not. We stand with Rob and Chelsea.”
