An unknown suspect detonated a firebomb in front of state senator Wendy Davis’ office Tuesday afternoon. Davis, a Democrat from Fort Worth, said in press conference Tuesday night that on one was injured, but security has been increased around the senator and her office.
A maintenance worker reported chasing a suspect from the building, but was unable to catch him. Police do not have description of the suspect, and have not confirmed what caused the fire that charred the front door of the office.
Davis’ communications director Anthony Spengler, who put out the bomb with a fire extinguisher, declined to speculate on the potential political nature of the attack. “We have an office that’s open to the public all the time,” said Spengler in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “and so we’re always potentially vulnerable to things like this. We’re thankful that no one was injured. We hope that the investigation is concluded quickly and that they identify the suspect.”
Davis is a rising star in Texas politics, and gained infamy last summer when she filibustered a school finance plan that would have gutted $4 billion from the state education system. The move made her something of a Democratic hero, and her name was floated at the time as a potential gubernatorial candidate. However, as the finance plan was the final bill of the Texas congressional session, Davis caused the entire legislature to go into an extra session, which resurrected a slate of previously defeated conservative legislation.
Davis has also been active in the pro-choice movement, and recently attended a Planned Parenthood function, leading some to believe that the attack was perpetrated by fringe pro-life protestors (or, because this is what it’s come to, a pro-choice group framing a pro-life group).
Though Davis survived the recent redistricting debacle with her Fort Worth district largely intact, she faces a tough reelection against Representative Mark Shelton in 2012. She appears undeterred: “It's a sad but true fact of public service that we have to feel concerned sometimes for our personal safety,” Davis said at the press conference. “But we can't let that stop us.”
---
Follow Evan McMurry @evanmcmurry
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment!