Jul 6, 2017 By Jacob Calvin Meyer 2 min read

Police are investigating vandalism to U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy’s district office in Mt. Lebanon, which officials say occurred in the late hours of July 4 or early July 5.

Mt. Lebanon police Lt. Duane Fisher said the word “filth” was spray-painted in red on the building as well as the word “rot,” which was spray-painted twice on a glass door at the entrance. Fisher said a midnight patrol officer discovered the vandalism while driving past the office at 504 Washington Road.

Investigators will be contacting several building owners near the office to view video surveillance, Fisher said.

“We don’t know what the cost to remove it is, so that kind of effects whether it’s a misdemeanor or a felony,” Fisher said of the level of damage to the building. “It’s all determined based on the amount of damage.”

Murphy’s office declined to comment on the incident other than confirming the spray paint has been removed.

Mondays With Murphy, a group that holds rallies to protest the congressman, released a statement today rebuking the vandalism.

“The leadership of Mondays With Murphy was dismayed to learn of the tagging of the congressman’s office,” the group’s organizer, Mykie Reidy, said in a written statement. “While our organization holds frequent rallies protesting Tim Murphy’s positions and votes, MWM has repeatedly and consistently called for non-violent and legal forms of dissent. We condemn this act of vandalism and believe that such acts are counter-productive. Whoever did this was not acting on behalf of our group.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Mt. Lebanon police at 412-343-4095.