CONCORD, N.H. — Gov. Kelly Ayotte is calling on social media platform X to suspend the account of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire after the group posted statements advocating the killing of Democrats, including House Minority Leader Alexis Simpson of Exeter.
The Republican governor sent a letter Thursday to Michael O’Herlihy, X’s head off safety, saying the posts violate the platform’s policies prohibiting threats and incitement to violence.
“Violent rhetoric is completely unacceptable and has no place in our civil discourse. These posts plainly violate X’s own rules on violent content, and I’m calling on X to remove them and suspend the account immediately,” Ayotte wrote.
The latest controversy erupted on Sept. 22 when the group, led by former U.S. Senate candidate Jeremy Kauffman, posted a message suggesting that people who do not intend to vote should instead make plans to kill millions of Democrats.
Simpson condemned the message and called for the group’s permanent removal from X. The account subsequently responded with a post targeting Simpson directly.
“New Hampshire will be a better and freer place when @alexissimpsonnh is dead,” the message stated, adding that she could move away before that happened.
The exchange followed the September post in which the group declared, “We openly support the assassination of basically every elected Democrat in New Hampshire.”
The group has also previously endorsed violence against former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky, who had advocated a state income tax.
The New Hampshire Department of Justice confirmed Thursday that it is reviewing the latest posts and considering whether legal action is appropriate.
“The New Hampshire Department of Justice is aware of these and previous posts and we understand the concerns that have been expressed,” a spokesman for Attorney General John Formella said.
“We are taking a close look at the posts and the applicable law to determine what, if any, action may be appropriate.”
The spokesman said the department could not comment on potential enforcement actions but would take legally appropriate steps to protect public officials and the public.
In her letter, Ayotte described the posts as part of a pattern of threatening political speech.
“This account has openly called for the assassination of elected officials from the New Hampshire Democratic Party, has said it condones murdering elected officials for their policy positions, and most recently threatened a member of House leadership,” Ayotte wrote.
She said X’s violent content policy specifically prohibits threats to kill or seriously injure individuals, incitement to violence and expressions of a desire for others to suffer physical harm.
The posts have also drawn criticism from Republican legislative leaders.
House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, R-Auburn, responded to the post targeting Simpson by questioning the group’s behavior and saying he would demand the resignation of any House member who made similar statements.
House Speaker Sherman Packard, R-Londonderry, also condemned the rhetoric, calling it an attempt to attract attention rather than a legitimate political debate.
The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire lost its affiliation with the national Libertarian Party in May following disputes over its endorsement of President Donald Trump in 2024 and its social media conduct.