Americans For Tax Reform Bomb Threat: Grover Norquist Office Evacuated After Bomb Scare

The offices of Americans for Tax Reform, the anti-tax group run by conservative activist Grover Norquist, were evacuated Monday morning after a bomb threat.

Norquist's office contacted the Washington Metropolitan Police Department around 9 a.m. on Monday after the bomb threat was called into the ATR office, according to The Hill.

Anthony Clay, a police spokesperson, told Politico that a bomb unit searched the office and found no explosives.

"The police are conducting an investigation," John Kartch, director of communications for Americans for Tax Reform, wrote in an email to The Hill.

The Republican Party has long been beholden to Americans for Tax Reform, which is headed by Norquist. He has loomed large on the periphery of the debt ceiling debate as members of Congress struggle to reach a deal.

Norquist's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge," which nearly all Republican members of Congress have signed, says signatories will never vote to raise taxes. According to Norquist, the pledge has also ruled out voting to end certain tax breaks and subsidies without using the resulting money to lower rates elsewhere.

Last week, Norquist appeared to signal that ending the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy would not be considered a tax increase under the pledge -- which would have given the Republican party breathing room to reach a compromise on the debt ceiling.

But Norquist quickly shut the door on such speculation in a New York Times op-ed.

Comments

[Vince della Penna]

12:11 PM on 08/09/2011

Grover Norquist dreamt of carrying out this very scheme as a high school student. Now for 25+ years he has been living out his most fervent childhood fantasy. This might be the most toxic case of arrested development I have ever witnessed. It surely speaks volumes that Ryan, Bachmann, Charles and David Koch, and the Tea Partiers in congress would seek out such wounded souls as Ayn Rand and Grover Norquist to follow. For some, these are leaders to follow and for others it is David Koresch or Jim Jones, just different flavors of Kool-Aid, perhaps. I just sense that we can do better in selecting people to send to congress.

[waynesmyer]

07:57 AM on 07/29/2011

How much money did Grover Norquist and Ralph Reed get from Jack Abramoff's theft of Gus Boulis's Sun-Cruz Casino Ship-lines thstn were valed at $132 mission. What was their involvment
in the theft and the murder of Gus Boulis? What was Rep. Bob New's involvement? Why did the DOJ drop the "RICO" case on the theft and murder? Who else were involved in this massive conspiracy? and who got the stolen funds? THERE IS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON MURDER! Is there any Justice at DOJ?? keywords: Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello, Sun-Cruz Casino Ships

[premenos57]

12:55 PM on 07/28/2011

For what it's worth, when I contacted Senator Durbin via email, I specifically mentioned Norquist and how they could sign a pledge to one person or one entity, when they swore an oath to work for the good of the Americans. I also asked if something oculdn't be done about it. I did receive an answer from him and while it didn't say anything specifically about Norquist, I was watching CSPAN early this morning and Senator Durbin did tell the Republicans they should forget about their deal with him. Do as I did and call and write/email your Senators and Representatives and put pressure on them over the Norquist pledge. While I'm sure I'm not the only one who said anything to Senator Durbin about him, I do feel like he heard me and I feel I did my part. The Tea Party thinks they have the leverage but if we use ours constructively, together we can get something done.

[Judge H. Lee Sarokin]

12:29 PM on 07/27/2011

Bombs are wrong---including those intended or likely to blow up the U.S. economy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judge-h-lee-sarokin/do-political-pledges-cons_b_905958.html

[waynesmyer]

07:30 AM on 07/27/2011

Where is Alberto :"Fredo" Gonzalez when to need him???:

[waynesmyer]

07:10 AM on 07/27/2011

WILL GROVER GET HIS MONEY BACK? WILL HE GET HIS GROOVE BACK? ? Will he get a real job??? Will he make another bomb threat! WITH A REAL BOMB?

[shortandwide]

06:15 PM on 07/26/2011

Do they still make old fashioned stink bombs?
Not that I would advocate such childish behavior as to throwing a stink bomb in Grovers office.

[SisterAnn]

02:01 PM on 07/26/2011

Sources close to the bomb investigation leaked that Boehner and Reid were suspects
shortly after reports that a bomb threat forced the evacuation of a Washington, D.C., building.

[waynesmyer]

08:07 AM on 07/29/2011

But! But! Will Grover use a real bomb the next time he makes a bomb threat? Will The Koch Bros send him money? Will he ever get a real job? THE PUBIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW!
approved by Annie "Ole Browwn-Eye" Kolter, Chairman, Vestal Virgins For Baby Bui$h

[Pittsburgh58]

02:00 PM on 07/26/2011

I don't believe it

[Nancy Cronk]

11:42 AM on 07/26/2011

Violence is never appropriate, no matter the reason.

That said, as long as we are on the topic of Grover Norquist, if a member of Congress signs a secret pledge to vote a certain way, say -- like the one Grover Norquist has pressured Republicans into signing, and that member of Congress uses it as an excuse to do what's not right for the country, isn't that member of Congress committing treason?

[waynesmyer]

11:11 AM on 07/26/2011

GEE WHIZ" GROVER MUST BE RUNNING LOW ON CASH! and figures the Koch Bros will send more! Has Grover ever had a real job???

[waynesmyer]

11:04 AM on 07/26/2011

Please Check it out! KEYWORDS! Jack Abramoff, Adam Kidan, Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed, Bob Ney, Anthony"Big Tony" Moscatiello THE MURDER OF GUS BOULIS AND THEFT OF IS SUN-CRUZ CASINO SHIPS

[waynesmyer]

10:53 AM on 07/26/2011

Why did the DOJ drop the "RICO" case that involved the theft of Gus Boulis's Sun-Cruz Casino Ships and the later murder of Boulis??? Abramof & Kidan, close buddies of Grover Norquist and Ralph Reed, did small prison time for the theft & Fraud. Norquist & Reed got some of the stolen funds along with other notable GOPers. THERE IS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON MURDER!! Keyword : Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello, Italia Federici Does Liberty U still run DOJ???

[waynesmyer]

07:02 AM on 07/27/2011

Take Grover Notquist's pledge! I HEREBY PLEDGE TO SEND MY SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK TO GROVER NOTQUIST EACH MONTH SO GOD WON'T SEND HIM TO HEAVEN TO KEEP ORAL ROBERTS COMPANY!

[waynesmyer]

07:03 AM on 07/27/2011

IS THE JUSTICE AT DOJ!????

[bdcelina777]

09:19 AM on 07/26/2011

I thought he officed with Cantor.

[Republican No More]

09:15 AM on 07/26/2011

Please, please...we cannot have American turning on American here. Even though Grover Norquist's ideology is intransigent and perverts conservative ideals into childish tantrums he has a right to his opinion. If this is some left-wing nut, he must be exposed and charged. This behavior is unacceptable. The facts aren't in but whether it is an extremist from either side, crazy is still crazy. This perpetrator must be stopped..terrorizing fellow Americans can't be tolerated. There are peaceful ways to deal with political zealots.. utilize those!!!

[ejcop77]

01:03 PM on 07/26/2011

there is no perpetrator. this is a classic hoax. karl rove and the young republicans use to pull this stunt off all the time back in the 70's. stop falling for the nonsense. bomb threats are literally the easiest thing in the world to do. get a prepaid phone and make a call. the end.

[Republican No More]

09:38 AM on 07/27/2011

A possibility that should be understood, but we must rise above the conspiracy theorists...

[waynesmyer]

08:23 AM on 07/28/2011

But! But! Did Grover use a real bomb in his bomb threat??

[Republican No More]

10:19 AM on 07/28/2011

Grover just told Lawrence O'Donnell on Morning Joe 7/28 that if he were in congress he would likely sign a pledge to always raise the ceiling.. speaks in riddles..