Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) took to X Monday evening to express her condolences to the family and friends of a woman who was accidentally killed in an automobile accident as local law enforcement responded to bomb threats made to Greene’s home in Rome, Georgia.
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Officials say Tammie Pickelsimer, 66, was killed when her car was hit by a car being driven by a member of the county bomb squad that was responding to Rep. Greene’s home.
Rome Police Department spokesperson Kelly Madden told USA TODAY that a county bomb squad was deployed to respond to the threat at Greene’s residence. An officer called to join the response was in a car accident on his way to the station. While the officer was not critically injured, the other driver involved died, Madden said.
Tammie Pickelsimer, 66, was pulling out of a parking lot onto the road where the officer was driving in his personal car, according to the Georgia State Patrol’s preliminary findings. The officer braked and hit her car on the driver’s door area. Pickelsimer was transported to the hospital, where she passed away due to her injuries, the GSP said.
The revelation that someone was accidentally killed as part of a bomb hoax at her property clearly devastated and incensed the GOP firebrand.
I’m heartsick right now. I was just informed that an innocent woman died today in an auto accident involving a member of the Rome Police bomb squad who was responding to the threat at my home.
My prayers are with Tammie Pickelsimer, her family, the officer who was injured, and… https://t.co/eGaUoZkMWs
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 10, 2024
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Here’s the full text of her tweet:
I’m heartsick right now. I was just informed that an innocent woman died today in an auto accident involving a member of the Rome Police bomb squad who was responding to the threat at my home.
My prayers are with Tammie Pickelsimer, her family, the officer who was injured, and the entire Rome Police Department.
These violent political threats have fatal consequences. It’s an undue strain on our law enforcement who must treat them seriously. The officer was responding to protect my life. And now, a woman has lost her life because of this despicable act.
The perpetrator of this crime has committed murder in our small community of Rome, Georgia.
The police shouldn’t have to respond to these threats and there should not be deaths caused at their hands.
I’m so thankful for everything the Rome Police Department does to protect our city and for putting their lives on the line to do it.
I’m sick to my stomach, but I’m also angry. This should have never happened and I pray it never happens again.
Earlier Monday, before word of the accident was made public, MTG praised local law enforcement for its prompt, tweeting: “The Rome Police Department’s Assistant Chief of Police received an email containing a bomb threat directed towards me. I’m so grateful to every member of the Rome Police Department for your swift and professional response in ensuring my safety.”
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She also shared some video of the bomb squad at work.
The Rome Police Department’s Assistant Chief of Police received an email containing a bomb threat directed towards me.
I’m so grateful to every member of the Rome Police Department for your swift and professional response in ensuring my safety. pic.twitter.com/JfJBSLBNIz
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 9, 2024
While the crash that killed Tammie Pickelsimer is still under investigation, Rome police officials say that the bomb threat was traced to an IP address in Russia.
