According to a Democratic Congressman, Republicans on Capitol Hill are hesitant to criticize Donald Trump’s policies due to concerns for their own safety and that of their families.

California Democrat Eric Swalwell claimed his Republican colleagues are “terrified” of opposing Trump, not only for fear of affecting their political careers but also for worrying that it might lead to physical threats that disrupt their personal lives and force them to hire full-time security.

These remarks came during a webinar hosted by journalist Sidney Blumenthal when Swalwell was asked about the possibility of Republicans rebelling against or impeaching Trump.

Swalwell mentioned that he has many Republican friends who are terrified of being the “tallest poppy” in the field, which is not just about fearing a primary challenge but also about personal safety and their families’ wellbeing.

He elaborated on how significant figures like Elon Musk or Trump having a public feud with someone can instigate harassment and threats, making life dangerous for them and their families.

Swalwell warned that this fear of Trump could result in diminished support for Ukraine among House Republicans following Trump’s recent attacks on Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and his praise for Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin.

Some Republican Congress members have faced pressure to counteract attacks on federal government workers by Musk’s “department of government efficiency,” which critics argue undermines Congress’s authority.

Swalwell, who is a member of the House judiciary committee, has spent over $1 million on security in the last two and a half years, due in part to serving as an impeachment manager for Trump’s second trial and the lawsuit he filed against Trump and his son over their role in the Capitol attack.

This depiction of intimidation was backed by Bradley Moss, a lawyer for the FBI Agents Association, which has sued to prevent the Trump administration from naming agents involved in the January 6 criminal investigation.

Moss recalled how Trump attacked his boss, a lawyer who represented the whistleblower on a call to Ukraine’s president that led to Trump’s first impeachment, leading to numerous death threats.

Cheney and Romney also support the idea that fear of retribution impacts how Republicans vote, with Cheney stating her colleagues’ fear for their security and Romney sharing an account from a Senate colleague who reconsidered his vote due to concerns for his safety.

Musk has threatened to fund primary challenges against Republicans who do not align with Trump’s agenda, which appears to have influenced Senator Joni Ernst’s decision to support a nominee despite initial opposition and Senator Thom Tillis’s receipt of death threat warnings for considering opposition to a nominee.