Tuberville refers ex-CIA director to Capitol Police over post he says called for his 'assassination'

Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Tuesday announced that he had referred former CIA Director Michael Hayden to Capitol Police over an X post he made seemingly calling for the lawmaker's death.

Hayden on Monday responded to a post that read "Should Tommy Tuberville be removed from his committee? Yes or No?" to which Hayden quipped "How about the human race?"

Commentors on Hayden's post widely interpreted the statement as a call for the Republican's assassination, as did Tuberville himself. The senator on Tuesday released a statement confirming he had referred Hayden to Capitol Police.

"This morning my office was made aware of a statement made by General Michael Hayden calling for a politically motivated assassination," he said. "This statement is disgusting and it is repugnant to everything we believe in as Americans. Given General Hayden's long career in Washington, he must have known that, by making such a statement, he was committing a serious crime."

"His own efforts today to reinterpret what he said are only a tacit admission of guilt," he continued. "If we still have a nonpolitical justice system in this country, then General Hayden will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. My office has reported this incident to the Capitol Police and I expect that they will once again do an excellent job protecting members of Congress and bringing criminals to justice."

Hayden, for his part, doubled down on his statement Tuesday morning, saying "I was surprised to wake up this morning and discover that many MAGAnuts had lost their minds over my suggestion that 'Coach' Tuberville not be considered a member of the human race. I stand by that view. I'm wishing you all a nice day even the intransigent Tommy Tuberville."

Tuberville further lamented that Senate Democrats had not come to his aid and condemned Hayden's remarks.

"I am a conservative and a Republican, but above all, I am an American who cares about this country and is deeply concerned for its future. I am not a politician, and when I came to Washington, I did not expect to be popular among the clown show; but I certainty did not expect to be lied about on the Senate floor and threatened by former government officials like Michael Hayden," Tuberville concluded. "Anyone who actually cares about our country must go on the record and condemn his reckless statements."

Hayden served as CIA director from 2006-2009.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.