Democratic Rep. Terrance Carroll said Monday that the person who sent him an e-mail last week supporting his lynching has apologized.
In a separate e-mail sent to The Denver Post, the sender said, “I’m sorry my ranting was taken out of context.”
“I just read about the turmoil my e-mail created. … Nothing I wrote had ANY racist overtones, whatsoever. … I didn’t even know the Rep was black,” the sender wrote to The Post. “I write many politicians based on their views, not on their party affiliation, color, creed … etc. I am sorry if the gentleman took it as such.”
The sender has not responded to requests for an interview.
Carroll said the e-mail he received was similar to the one sent to The Post.
“I got an apology from him,” the Denver lawmaker said. “I have no choice but to take him at face value for what he said.”
But, Carroll continued, “It still begs the question, ‘Is it ever appropriate in a public discourse to call people that disagree with you traitors or say you’re sorry a public official can’t be lynched or put before a firing squad?”‘
Carroll said the e-mail was one of many he received in response to a joke he made suggesting the state build a wall at its borders to keep out the Minutemen, armed citizens who patrol the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
Carroll said many of the e-mails bordered on threatening, but that was the first one he turned over to the State Patrol for investigation. A spokesman Monday said the investigation is ongoing.
“You are SOOOO lucky lynching and firing squad for treason aren’t available punishments, anymore,” the e-mail read. “I’d vote you in, in a heartbeat.”
Staff writer Chris Frates can be reached at 303-820-1633 or cfrates@denverpost.com.
