A member of the Vermont House of Legislature says that his truck wheels came unbolted after being tampered with.

This message was posted October 24 on Facebook by Rep. Michael Morgan, R- West Milton/Grand Isle.

“As most of you know I travel the area a lot. Sadly, it is apparent that someone ‘tampered’ with my truck in those travels. As a result, last night, I experienced a catastrophic failure with my vehicle,” he wrote.

He asks if someone saw or heard anything.

“If anyone has seen any suspicious activity involving my truck I would appreciate you reaching out to me. I have notified local authorities. I am glad that my wife, children or grandchildren were not with me in the vehicle as greater harm could have occurred.”

In a phone interview with VDC on Monday, he elaborated that at least four mechanics having heard the story generally told him “That’s just a little bit more than suspicious.”

He dismissed any possibility that the tires weren’t put on right. “That would have presented itself a long time ago,” he said. “I had those replaced back in May or April, then drove a camper to Tenessee about 1,100 miles.” He added that altogether he drove six or seven thousand miles since they were put on.

Eight heavy-duty lug nuts simultaneously came off. Morgan said it’s not uncommon for an occasional single bolt to loosen, but for all eight at once is unusual.

“It just doesn’t add up,” he said.

He spoke with state and local police in Milton. He campaigns over a large area – his district is about 60 miles long – so that’s a lot of stops in rural settings with opportunities for someone to be alone with the truck.

He noted the costs for a new wheel and other parts and labor have totaled almost $2,800.

When the wheel did come off, he heard a large screeching noise and was able to pull off the road just in time. He said just a small piece of one remaining bolt was the difference between it coming off completely while still in traffic.

He said he hadn’t heard back from police and it may be unlikely at this point that they learn more.

After two assassination attempts against Trump this year, there is more discussion in the media about political violence. The National Review wrote about a week ago, “House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) released a statement Friday denouncing Harris for calling Trump a “fascist” during her CNN town hall Wednesday night and suggesting her rhetoric could encourage political violence.”

Regarding the potential penalties for tampering with a vehicle, Cornell Law School summarizes 18 U.S. Code § 1365 – “Tampering with consumer products.”

It states, “Whoever, with reckless disregard for the risk that another person will be placed in danger of death or bodily injury and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk, tampers with any consumer product that affects interstate or foreign commerce, or the labeling of, or container for, any such product, or attempts to do so, shall—” It continues that an offender can spend up to 10 years in prison.”

Michael Bielawski

The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle