Police investigating reported threat against Akin

This Aug. 10, 2012 file photo shows Todd Akin, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator from Missouri taking questions after speaking at the Missouri Farm Bureau candidate interview and endorsement meeting in Jefferson City, Mo.

/ AP Photo/St. Louis Pos-Dispatch,/Christian Gooden

Updated 7:57 PM ET

(CBS/AP) WASHINGTON - U.S. Capitol Police are investigating a reported threat against Rep. Todd Akin, the Missouri congressman who has been criticized for comments he made recently about rape.

Lt. Kimberly Schneider of the U.S. Capitol Police issued a statement: "The U.S. Capitol Police are currently working with the FBI on a reported threat against Congressman Akin. This is an active, open investigation. Of course, we don't discuss the security of Members of Congress--this includes our security operations & procedures."

An aide for Akin said: "The office of Congressman Akin has received threats of rape of his official staff, family and the Congressman himself along with suggestions that individuals should die."

Akin, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Missouri, caused a stir when he said in a television interview Sunday that women's bodies have ways of preventing pregnancies in cases of what he called "legitimate rape." He has apologized repeatedly and has said he misspoke, and has refused demands by top Republicans that he withdraw from the Senate race.

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Meanwhile, Akin claimed Thursday to have taken in more than $100,000 during a two-day online fundraising drive that he portrayed as a grassroots effort to circumvent "party bosses" who demanded that he drop out.

But the six-term congressman will need much more than that to replenish a campaign account already diminished by a hotly contested primary -- and the withdrawal of an estimated $10 million in backing from the GOP and political groups.

8 Photos

Rep. Todd Akin

[TimeToEvolve]

I hope the police are investigating the crime headquarters of the Republicon Party. They can't have someone like Akin actually advertising the official position of the Republicons. How are they going to make their lies stick?

[fixingit2002]

No, Akin does NOT represent the republican party. Any more than extreme liberals represent democrats. Both parties have been commandeered by the far ends of otherwise rational view points. I am a christian republican from Missouri, and I can tell you this man does not reflect my beliefs.

I've seen Claire McCaskill at work and I won't vote for her. But I did not vote for Akin and I will not vote for him either. I will write in my own name, to protest the fact that I don't have the 'vote of no confidence'.

I do not personally know a single republican or christian that agrees with the extreme views Akin presents. But I don't know any democrats who agree with Obama's extreme socialism, either.

where, oh where are the actual statesmen and women who know how to find common ground?

[1988JAck]

Odds are 99 to 1 that it came from the Repubs. They are the masters of dirty tricks and it serves their aims in more than one way.

[nomorelibs]

This is all very hard to believe. How could anyone from the party of tolerance and understanding possibly act in this manner. They respect the views of all Americans, right?

[cntrygirl3]

I'm thinking it is from his own party to try and get him out. No sane democrat would want to see him leave the race. He is about the only shot the democrats have here (no pun intended). Mr. Akin is the perfect poster child for the GOP, ultra right wing religious, denies the existence of "inconvenient" science, considers women nothing more than sows, and I am sure a staunch defender of gun rights. What more could they want.

[TimeToEvolve]

I was thinking about giving a campaign donation to Akin for speaking truth to power about the official backwards Republicon position on this issue. If he comes out and talks about how him and Ryan are in lockstep on all of this (in fact they co-sponsored legislation on this very issue), I will definitely donate.

[MojitoMamma]

Unless all of you anti-abortion woman-haters have adopted a herd of unwanted, thrown-away kids, you're all freaking hypocrites, with zero credibility. Put your money where your mouth is and then shut the EFF up.

[TimeToEvolve]

Talk about killing the messenger. Akin say exactly what the Republicons stand for: they pretty much consider women as second class citizens. The only thing Akin did wrong is speak as they feel, the mainstream Republicons want to say one thing and do another.

[MojitoMamma]

This guy is so GROSS. Wouldn't he himself have to commit rape because what woman in her right mind would consent to sex with this POS in his nasty-looking comb-over, and his Dark Ages attitude.

I'll bet these "threats" are totally false, he just wants sympathy but it doesn't look like he's going to get any.

[TimeToEvolve]

Akin, the last honest Republicon. I mean, the Republicons declared his views as their official party position. It's just that the position is so unpopular that none of the scum will admit it.

[IBBuckshot]

Far be it from me to suggest that men who think they have a right to dictate when a woman should have an abortion...well, here goes, should do the following mental exercise:
Close your eyes and picture a man bigger and much stronger than you has come up from behind and grabbed you. Then he has hold of your own body, your private part s, you cannot escape.
Your pants come down as you struggle. He has strong hold on you.
Now picture this.
You are wrenched in shock, pain, humiliation as he inserts his body part into your body. Awhh..he's done. Now he has run off satisfied.
What now.
Well, pretend the sperm he injected into you has pregnated your body with his ancestors dna. Yes, that greasy, violent prick has determined to take your pure self, your family's honor, your family's finances, your right to your God's own plan for you and turned into the rapist wishes.
Who do you feel now?
This doesn't have to be a violent encounter. I remember when I was in eighth grade a girl in my class (I think we were 13 at the time). Left school and didn't return. Her father had gotten her pregnant and the family packed up and left town. I always wondered what happened to her after the baby was born. Abortion was illegal in those days. I wondered what she had been through before the pregnancy in her own home. What happened after she returned home after the birth. One can only wonder.
What about the military guys and ladies who are forcibly raped or drugged or just plain overtaken.
I would say if you haven't been there keep your nose to yourself.

[blmksm]

I have a friend who went out drinking at a bar in our tiny rural hometown with one of her old high school classmates one night-a woman, BTW-and after only a few drinks, she started feeling funny and passed out. The classmate loaded my friend into her vehicle, drove her to a house, where eight -8!!- guys took turns raping, sodomizing, and doing all sorts of vile things to my friend while she was drifting in and out of consciousness, unable to move or speak. Meanwhile, her good friend the former classmate videotaped the entire ordeal. When I tried to convince her to report it, she was too embarrassed, she didn't want to deal with all of the people calling her names, saying it wasn't really rape-rape because she brought it on herself by being drunk....