Veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove stated that he received "credible threats" after criticizing the Republican Party and announcing his intention to vote for a Democratic candidate. Rove detailed the threats during a question-and-answer session at the Texas Tribune Festival.
"The threats that they made in the aftermath of my saying I was going to vote for John Rosenthal (D) did get me DPS parked outside my house for a week because of quote ‘credible threats’ that they won’t tell me," Rove said. He added that he would like to confront those who issued the threats, saying, “I’d like to find who issued those credible threats, and meet that sumabitch in a dark alley someplace!”
Rove's remarks follow recent criticisms he leveled against his party, which he claimed last week has been "infiltrated" with "conspiracy nuts." He faced backlash, particularly from former President Donald Trump and his supporters, after stating he would vote against Republican Bo French, a candidate facing criticism for an apparent racist post.
Trump publicly denounced Rove on social media, calling him a "stone cold loser" and a "RINO" (Republican In Name Only).
Rove, however, defended his stance, questioning the loyalty of those labeling him a RINO. "Where were you when we were fighting and scrapping to build this Republican Party? Where were you?" he asked, referring to critics who he said are influenced by media personalities like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon, rather than engaging in grassroots party building.
He also stated that the threats he received served as motivation to write a Wall Street Journal column formally declaring his vote against French. "I said, if some guy’s gonna be hearing about me making a comment and threatening me, and threatening a bunch of legislators, what the hell? In for a penny, in for a pound,” Rove said.