Politics has always been a ruthless game, and history is filled with examples of how far some will go to eliminate their rivals.
Take the case of the Roman Republic: after Cicero delivered his fiery “Philippics” against Mark Antony, Antony responded not with words, but violence.
Soldiers were sent to kill Cicero, and when they arrived, Cicero accepted his fate with a grim dignity, telling them, “If you can do this properly, sever my neck.”
Cicero’s head and hands were then displayed in the Roman Forum, a brutal reminder of the cost of opposing those in power.
While modern politics may not be as openly violent, it’s clear that the game can still be dangerous—sometimes in life-threatening ways.
This was evident in the recent charges brought against William Braddock, a former political opponent of Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL).
Braddock is accused of threatening to hire a hit squad to murder Luna while he was running against her in 2021.
The 41-year-old from St. Petersburg, Florida, allegedly made these threats on June 8, 2021, including one particularly chilling claim about calling in a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to take out his political rival.
Prosecutors didn’t name the target outright, but it was clear that Luna, a fellow Republican, was the intended victim.
Braddock was reportedly caught on audio referring to Luna as a “dead squirrel” and a “f—ing speed bump in the road.”
The audio, recorded by a conservative activist and reported by Politico, captured Braddock making an unsettling declaration: “I really don’t want to have to end anybody’s life for the good of the people of the United States of America… But if it needs to be done, it needs to be done. Luna is a f—ing speed bump in the road.”
This incident is alarming, not only because of the violent rhetoric but also because it shows just how far some are willing to go. The use of language like this, particularly against a sitting member of Congress, is a stark reminder of the rising hostility in today’s political climate.
Fortunately, for Rep. Luna, hit squads aren’t something you can easily hire, especially in a place like the United States. Braddock’s case is still developing, but it seems he fled to the Philippines after the threats were made.
He has since been extradited back to the U.S. to face charges.
If convicted, Braddock could serve up to five years in prison—a sentence that many would argue seems too light for threatening the life of a U.S. Representative.
This isn’t the first time Rep. Luna has faced danger.
According to reports, she has also received a serious shooting threat, and in recent months, there have been two attempts on the life of a former U.S. president.
It’s clear that the rhetoric in American politics is escalating to dangerous levels.
It’s high time that those on both sides of the aisle, particularly on the left, tone down the hateful discourse.
As incidents like this show, things are spiraling out of control, and the consequences could be catastrophic if cooler heads don’t prevail.
