A Muslim candidate for the Irvine City Council said Thursday that a councilman's comment linking an Islamic civil rights group to terrorism has led to a death threat against him. Police said they are investigating.
Attorney Todd Gallinger, a Muslim convert, said a man called his office Tuesday, about three weeks after Councilman Steven Choi spoke at a forum and urged voters not to support a candidate who worked for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday, October 18, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 37 words Type of Material: Correction
Irvine candidate: An article in the Oct. 10 California section about a death threat reportedly received by Irvine City Council candidate Todd Gallinger identified him as a Democrat. He is registered as an independent (decline to state).
The council, which has 35 offices in the United States and Canada, is "a dangerous Islamic organization," Choi told 150 business leaders. Although he did not name Gallinger, the comment was clearly aimed at the 29-year-old lawyer, who has done legal work for the council's Southern California chapter in Anaheim.
Gallinger said the caller thought he was talking to him but told an employee, "I want to cut off your head just like all the other Muslims deserve."
"It's clear that the person was motivated by the political attacks against me by my opponent," Gallinger said.
Police spokesman Rick Handfield confirmed Thursday that the department is investigating the alleged threat.
On Thursday, Choi said he was surprised that someone would threaten Gallinger but did not believe it was inspired by his remarks at the Sept. 19 forum. Gallinger earlier that month had been interviewed about his association with the council on a KUCI-FM radio show.
"It's a ridiculous question," Choi said when asked if the caller was acting because of his comments. "Am I responsible for someone else making a threat to him? No. This is not my intent at all."
He said the media had "escalated the problem" by publishing his remarks, which he said were directed at the council and not individual Muslims.
Last month, retired Irvine Police Lt. Patrick A. Rodgers, who is also running for a seat on the council, sent an e-mail to reporters describing himself as "a conservative American red, white and blue thru and thru," and invited them to investigate Gallinger. Rodgers called his opponent "at best a terrorist group sympathizer."
And a recent campaign mailer addressed to "Irvine Republicans" accused Gallinger and other Democratic candidates for mayor and City Council of "touting" the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which it described as "a group with terrorist ties."
The group's leaders have consistently denied allegations that they support Islamic extremists and have condemned the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
