Some top NH Republicans silent after Libertarian Party’s assassination threat of Kamala Harris

After the New Hampshire Libertarian Party posted incitement of violence against Democratic Candidate for President Kamala Harris over the weekend, several top 2024 Republican candidates with ties to the organization have refused to denounce the group or their post.

“Anyone who murders Kamala Harris would be an American hero,” the party wrote on their X (formerly Twitter) account.

The post attracted national attention after going viral on social media, as has a video with Kauffman confronting FBI agents visiting his home for questioning.

That includes 2024 Republican Gubernatorial candidate Kelly Ayotte, who was seen getting close with Jeremy Kauffman at a conservative event in New Hampshire last year. Ayotte Refused to acknowledge the post, only broadly condemning political violence after the foiled assassination attempt on Donald Trump on Sunday.

Kauffman has been identified by LPNH as someone in charge of the social media account that posted the message about Harris and was visited by the FBI this week seeking to question him about the posting.

Kauffman endorsed Ayotte in the gubernatorial primary this year, staying silent after Democrats called on her to renounce the endorsement.

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The refusal to condemn a problematic ally is a familiar one to most Ayotte observers. She also refused to renounce the endorsement of New Hampshire State Representative Jonathan Stone, who was revealed to have been terminated as a police officer following an investigation into his relationship with a minor and threats of mass shootings and rape against New Hampshire law enforcement.

Stone’s endorsement appears on Ayotte’s website to this day.

New Hampshire State House Majority Leader, Republican Jason Osborne — a high-profile member of the libertarian Free State Project — is also seen in the photograph with Ayotte and Kauffman. Osborne has not spoken against the threatening post, perhaps seeking to preserve his status among those in his caucus who stand with Kauffman.

Meanwhile, Republican State Rep. Travis Corcoran posted a message in support of Kauffman rebuffing FBI agents seeking to question him and Republican State Rep JR Hoell posted a screenshot of the license plate of the FBI agents seeking to question Kauffman. Republican State Rep. Mike Belcher also joined in, referring to the law enforcement officers in an online screed as “secret police”.

Another high-profile New Hampshire Republican with strong libertarian ties, Lily Tang Williams, winner of last Tuesday’s primary for the state’s 2nd congressional district, has also not commented. Williams was endorsed by Kauffman repeatedly, and he solicited financial support on her behalf.

Williams has not made any statement breaking with Kauffman over his post inciting violence against Democratic nominee Harris.

Republican individuals and groups, like this de facto NH GOP communications staffer, have sought to strategically minimize the influence of LPNH and Kauffman. However the oversized digital footprint of both LPNH and Kauffman, as well as the deep ranks of Free State Project-associated Republican lawmakers in New Hampshire put those claims in doubt.