Rep. Jared Moskowitz says antisemitic threats targeting Jewish Americans and elected officials are spiking, a surge that has him under 24 hour police protection at his South Florida home and demanding tougher security for lawmakers back in their districts. He has played some of the ugliest voicemail messages for national television and described an atmosphere where criticism of Israel is sliding into outright attacks on Jews.
Moskowitz Shared Voicemails On CNN
In an interview with CNN, Moskowitz aired voicemails his office has received and said he now sees swastikas and violent rhetoric "every day, all the time." He told host Sara Sidner that the surge "mostly started after October 7th" and that the threats "ramp up every time I go on television." The Florida Democrat said officers are now posted outside his home around the clock.
Arrest, Manifesto And A 25 Year Sentence
According to federal prosecutors, a local man, John Kevin Lapinski Jr., stockpiled rifles, silencers, body armor and tactical gear and kept maps and a handwritten "target list" that included Moskowitz and Jewish community sites; U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith later sentenced him to 300 months in prison, Roll Call reported.
Hoodline earlier covered the arrest and manifesto when the case first broke.
Audit Shows Violent Incidents Climbing
The broader trend is ugly. The Anti Defamation League's 2025 audit found assaults against Jewish people hit a record high last year even as overall antisemitic incidents declined, with assaults involving deadly weapons jumping sharply, according to the ADL. The numbers echo Moskowitz’s warning that toxic rhetoric is increasingly turning into real world violence.
Lawmakers Push For More Protection
Moskowitz told local reporters that he and other members approached the Speaker to put together a security package that would let lawmakers hire private protection when they are home in their districts, and he urged political leaders to shut out extremist voices, as reported by CBS12. He said the goal is to keep colleagues and their families safe without retreating from public life.
How It’s Playing Out Locally
Since the Margate arrest, Moskowitz said he avoids parades and large outdoor events, brings in private security for public appearances and asks indoor audiences to pass through metal detectors, changes he described as painful but necessary. Prosecutors and local officials say neighbor tips and a fast response by police prevented a planned attack, a detail highlighted in Roll Call's reporting.
"We need good people not to be quiet," Moskowitz told CNN, arguing that political movements should not tolerate antisemites in their ranks. With ADL figures showing a rise in violent attacks, community leaders and law enforcement are under renewed pressure to bolster protections for synagogues, schools and public events.
