A Lebanon County man posted a public “hit list” naming 20 Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers for execution, complete with a gun photo and “Memorial Day Operation” plans, sparking fears of real-world violence just days before his arrest.
Berryhill’s Threats and Arrest Timeline
Adam Berryhill posted the hit list on X in April 2026. Threats specified shooting the 20 Democrats. He attached a firearm photo and referenced a “Memorial Day Operation.” Authorities received notification in early May. Pennsylvania State Police alerted Lebanon County District Attorney and lawmakers’ security teams. Berryhill faced arrest on May 6 in Lebanon County. Courts charged him the next day with one count of terroristic threat.
ICYMI: Adam G. Berryhill, of Lebanon County, was arrested by State Police officials last week and charged with making terroristic threats against Pa. lawmakers (all Democrats) online.https://t.co/dbDrFMKSqp
— Jaxon White (@Jaxon__White) May 13, 2026
Targets Concentrate in Philadelphia Politics
The list named House Speaker Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia first. It included Reps. Chris Rabb and Sen. Sharif Street, locked in a fierce primary for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District. Other Philadelphia representatives targeted: Morgan Cephas, Malcolm Kenyatta, Rick Krajewski, Danilo Burgos, Joe Hohenstein, Mary Isaacson, and Jordan Harris. Suburb targets added Reps. Benjamin Sanchez, Tim Briggs, and Sens. Steve Santarsiero, Amanda Cappelletti, Maria Collett, John Kane, Katie Muth, Judy Schwank.
Law Enforcement Response Proves Effective
State police spokesperson Chris Caracino stated the process worked perfectly to protect officials. Berryhill now sits behind bars. This rapid response aligns with common sense: monitor social media threats aggressively, coordinate across agencies, and prioritize public servant safety. Facts show law enforcement neutralized the danger before Memorial Day, deterring potential copycats through swift justice.
Broader Context of Political Threats
Threats against lawmakers surged 300% from 2016-2021 per FBI data, peaking post-January 6. Nationally, over 8,000 threats hit Congress yearly by 2025, yielding 20-plus arrests for similar lists. Precedents include Solomon Peña firebombing Democratic offices in New Mexico and David DePape’s attack in California. Pennsylvania saw Rep. Summer Lee face doxxing and swatting in 2022. GAO reports platforms catch only 60% via AI.
Pennsylvania man arrested for 'hit list' targeting 20 Democrats: police https://t.co/lylgJf7fpJ
— CompuChris (@compuchris) May 13, 2026
Partisan Divides and Implications
Lebanon County, rural and Republican-leaning, contrasts sharply with urban Philadelphia targets. This urban-rural split fuels incidents, per UPenn’s Marc Trussler. Short-term, lawmakers gain protection details amid primaries. Long-term, expect pushes for better X monitoring and Pennsylvania laws on online threats. Pew polls show 70% fear 2026 election violence. Conservative views rightly call this an isolated act, not systemic, emphasizing mental health over broad smears—facts support law enforcement’s exemplary handling.
Sources:
Pennsylvania man accused of threatening to kill Congress member
Man arrested for making ‘politically violent’ threats to PA lawmakers