Washington (CNN) - Death threats have been made against freshman Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), his wife and children, according to a statement by his chief of staff Karl Ahlgren.
Ahlgren said law enforcement authorities consider the threats to be a "serious matter due to the content and nature of the threatening letters which were received."
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Precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of Mullin's wife and children, Ahlgren added. He did not specify the nature of the threats, or the potential motivation behind them.
U.S. Capitol Police Public Information Officer Shennell Antrobus added that his department was looking "with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local law enforcement, into this matter."
Elected in November with 57% of the vote, Mullin represents Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional district, which includes a wide swath of the state's eastern section. His was sworn into office January 3, and has cast a few votes thus far, including voting "no" on emergency funding for states affected by Superstorm Sandy.