House Democrats urge Twitter, TikTok, Meta and others to address spike in threats against law enforcement after FBI search of Trump home Mar-a-Lago

The sign for the J. Edgar Hoover FBI building can be seen through fencing and barbed wire surrounding construction on the side of the building in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 17, 2022.

The House Oversight Committee urged eight social media companies to crack down on online threats against law enforcement that are reportedly on the rise following the FBI's raid of former President Donald Trump's home Mar-a-Lago.

The lawmakers sent letters to the companies asking for information and documents. The platforms with mostly conservative followings were contacted.

Information about company policies for reporting and removing threats as well as data on the threats posted online have been sought by the letters.

A flood of violent threats on social media may have been caused by statements by Trump and his Republican allies.

NBC News reported that threats against officers have gone up since the Mar-a-Lago search warrant was executed.

A man who fired a nail gun at an FBI office in Cincinnati, Ohio, was killed in a gunfight with police. After the Mar-a-Lago raid, Ricky Shiffer posted threatening messages on Truth Social.

"We urge you to take immediate action to address any threats of violence against law enforcement that appear on your company's platforms"

Reps. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., are seen during a House Oversight and Reform Committee markup in Rayburn Building on a resolution on whether to hold Attorney General William Barr and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in contempt of Congress on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.

The Committee supports the First Amendment rights of all Americans to speak out about the actions of their government and law enforcement.

They are looking into whether legislative reform is necessary to protect law enforcement personnel.

The evening of August 8th, Trump released a statement saying his resort was under siege by the FBI.

Several Republican officials quickly issued statements in support of Trump, who is considering a presidential run. Kevin McCarthy suggested that the Department of Justice was weaponized against its political opponents.

Even former Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump has considered an enemy since he refused to reject electoral votes for Biden in the 2020 election, said he was concerned about the move.

The threats from Truth Social were cited in the letters sent Friday.

The Second Amendment is not about shooting animals. One post said to "lock and load". Don't allow yourselves to be attacked! The user wrote that we are about to enter into a war.

The companies are asked to give the requested information by September 2.