WASHINGTON — Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, will not vote in Washington Wednesday and will reschedule a virtual afternoon town hall because his family received a “credible threat,” his office said.

“The threat was delivered via a letter to his D.C. office and has been reported to the appropriate authorities,” Van Orden’s press office wrote in a post on X late Tuesday. “No elected official, regardless of political party affiliation, should have to worry about the safety of their family while serving the American people. Threats of political violence are not just dangerous — they are anti-American.”

Van Orden’s press office went on to blame “increasingly radical and violent rhetoric fueled by far-left Democrats who encourage hatred rather than healthy discourse.” 

“It is a poison on our nation and every Member of Congress — Republican or Democrat — should fully condemn it when they see it,” the post reads. 

The post said the Congressman looks forward to returning to D.C. 

Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, called threats against elected officials “un-American.” 

“From recent MAGA threats to GOP Senators, to regular ongoing threats I & others receive, to anti-Trump threats — none are appropriate,” Pocan wrote on X.

A report by the United States Capitol Police found there were 9,474 concerning statements and direct threats made against members of congress, their families and their staff last year. That’s up 18% from 2023. The report showed the number of threats against lawmakers has been increasing since 2017, with a spike four years ago at 9,625 threats. 

Capitol Police said threats usually increase during election years.

Mordecai Lee, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee political science professor and former state Democratic lawmaker, said even if a threat is fake, it can be “destabilizing.” 

“The fact that the member of Congress felt it was important to be home and protect his family is an indication that this was serious,” he said. “As a professor of government, I just don't have a solution. How do we de-escalate? How do we say, 'Let's have civil relations,' and that the people we disagree with are not our mortal enemies?” 

Van Orden faces a potentially tough re-election campaign next year. His district in central and western Wisconsin is considered the most competitive in the state. Three Democrats have already entered the race to replace him.  

“That might be part of the mix that members of Congress from flippable districts probably, whether they're Democrats or Republicans, might be seeing an increase in political threats and hostile messages more than the sort of run of the mill member of Congress, whether from Wisconsin or anywhere else," Lee said. 

The U.S. Capitol Police declined to confirm the threat against Van Orden, or whether it is the lead agency in the investigation. Nor would the agency say how many threats have been made against members of Congress this year.

"For safety reasons, we cannot discuss any potential investigations," the Capitol Police said in a statement.

Van Orden’s office also declined to reveal the nature of the threat, or whether he would return to the House on Thursday to vote.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.