Eric Cantor

Rep. Eric Cantor, Republican representative of Virginia's 7th congressional district reported on March 25, 2010 that he too has become the victim of threatening emails, and even had gunshots fired into his office, in the wake of the Presidential Healthcare bill passing.

Cantor was unanimously elected Republican Whip for the 111th United States Congress after serving as chief deputy whip since 2002.

Cantor was born into a Jewish family on June 6, 1963, in Richmond, Virginia. He attended the Collegiate preparatory school in Richmond, graduating in 1981. Upon graduating high school, Cantor went on to attend George Washington University Washington, D.C., where he was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1985. He received a juris doctorate from William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1988, and a master of science degree from Columbia University the following year. In 1989, Cantor married his wife, Diana Marcy Fine a lawyer and CPA, whom he had met on a blind date. The couple have 3 children: Evan, Jenna, and Michael. http://congress.org/congressorg/bio/id/8543

Cantor began his political career in 1992, as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 73rd District. He remained in this position from January of 1992 to January of 2001. http://cantor.house.gov/about.htm He assumed the office of the member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 7th District in January of 2001, and the 23rd Minority Whip of the United States House of Representatives in January of 2009. http://cantor.house.gov/about.htm Cantor opposed the Presidential Healthcare bill that passed on March 21, 2010. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_09/020070.php

On March 25, 2010, Cantor spoke publicly at a news conference about the recent threats he has received, and the gunshots fired into his Richmond, Virginia campaign office earlier in the week, referencing the numerous acts of threats and violence experienced by members of Congress in the wake of the passing of health care reform. http://www.fox2now.com/news/wtvr-cantor-office-shots-fired,0,3254074.story

In the wake of the passing of the highly debated and controversial healthcare bill, Eric Cantor announced on March 25 that he too, like many of the Democratic members of Congress, had received a number of threatening email messages. Canton has stated that while he will speak about receiving the threats, he will not release any specific messages to the public in an attempt to discourage any future threats. http://www.fox2now.com/news/wtvr-cantor-office-shots-fired,0,3254074.story

During the March 25 news conference, Cantor reported that gunshots had been fired into his Richmond, Virginia campaign office. No one was present at the time of the shooting, and the exact time of the incident is unknown, although reports have stated that the shooting was believed to have occurred some time between March 22 and March 23. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20001168-503544.html

Cantor has responded to the threats and acts of violence by charging that this is no longer a political issue, but a matter of security, and should be handled by the proper authorities, and by calling out Democratic representatives for what he referred to as "dangerously fanning the flames." http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20001168-503544.html