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Patrol investigates threats against state Rep. Matt Shea

Published  January 17, 2016 1:37pm PST
Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) _ The Washington State Patrol says it is investigating threats reportedly made against a state lawmaker who recently made headlines for visiting an Oregon wildlife refuge that's been occupied by armed protesters.

The Spokesman-Review newspaper reports (http://is.gd/NHSsN7 ) that Rep. Matt Shea said he received the threats Jan. 12 and 13, after news articles described his visit with protesters at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

State Patrol spokesman Kyle Moore confirmed that the agency's Spokane District has ``an open and active case'' involving threats against the Spokane Valley Republican, but he could not give further details.

Shea declined to comment to the newspaper. But on Facebook, he blamed the Spokesman-Review's coverage of his trip for ``these violent threats against me and my family.''

The newspaper's editor, Gary Graham, noted that it wasn't the first or only news organization to write about the trip.