Police in Washington, D. C., are investigating an incident outside Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s home, including whether a spray-painted anarchist symbol on…
Police in Washington, D. C., are investigating an incident outside Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s home, including whether a spray-painted anarchist symbol on Carlson’s driveway represents a hate crime.
A crowd of people gathered outside Carlson’s home on Wednesday night, shouting insults and, according to the police statement, defacing property.
« We welcome those who come here to exercise their First Amendment rights in a safe and peaceful manner; however, we prohibit them from breaking the law, » the D. C. Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement to The Hill.
« Last night, a group of protestors broke the law by defacing private property at a Northwest, DC residence, » the statement said. « MPD takes these violations seriously, and we will work to hold those accountable for their unlawful actions.
« There is currently an open criminal investigation regarding this matter. »
The report states that an anarchist symbol was spray-painted across Carlson’s driveway. It characterizes the defacement as a « suspected hate crime » motivated by « anti-political » bias.
The Metropolitan Police Department considers a crime motivated by political affiliation to fall under the category of bias-related crime.
In a video posted on social media that has sine been taken down, protesters are seen outside Carlson’s home chanting, « Tucker Carlson we will fight. We know where you sleep at night. »
No arrests were made Wednesday night, but police confiscated several signs, according to the police report.
A group called Smash Racism DC that has been described as an anti-fascist, or « antifa, » group was reportedly behind the incident.
Carlson has said that the group’s actions went over the line.
« It wasn’t a protest. It was a threat, » Carlson told the Post in an interview published Thursday.
« They were threatening me and my family and telling me to leave my own neighborhood in the city that I grew up in. »
He also told the Post that members of the group broke his door and that his wife fled from the commotion to hide in a pantry, thinking it was a home invasion. The Fox News host was not home at the time.
Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace also condemned the activists’ behavior.
« The incident that took place at Tucker’s home last night was reprehensible, » they wrote in a joint statement sent to The Hill. « The violent threats and intimidation tactics toward him and his family are completely unacceptable. »
