The whole death threats issue, if true is certainly deplorable, the act of a cretin.
That said, this is a big spin game, I would put my money of the whole death threats thing being more spin, an internal set up to find sympathy from the masses, an attempt to change the tide on a battle it would appear they are losing.
I hope it is spin, I would hate to think this sort of bullying and scare mongering would still exist in this day and age.