"Congressman Rehberg's veiled threat against federal judges he disagrees with is in light of the murder of a federal judge in Tucson less than a month ago," he said, according to the paper.

The recent shooting in Arizona, which critically injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), killed six others, including federal Judge John Roll.

"No one thinks Senator Tester is actually preparing to go to war despite his frequent references to building a war chest," Rehberg spokesman Jed Link said in response. "Nor did anyone feel threatened when Time suggested Republicans were an 'endangered species' on a 2009 cover. This hand-wringing is nothing but an attempt to distract Montanans from the substance of the speech and the fact that Washington Democrats have been wrong on just about every issue they've tackled including some of the judges they've sent to the federal bench."

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You can read the full text of Rehberg's speech Monday here.









Democrats are also highlighting Rehberg's praise of Rep. Michele Bachmann Michele Marie BachmannEvangelicals shouldn't be defending Trump in tiff over editorial Mellman: The 'lane theory' is the wrong lane to be in White House backs Stephen Miller amid white nationalist allegations MORE (R-Minn.), who appeared with him this past weekend. A Democratic tracker caught video of the event, where Rehberg offered some encouragement for Bachmann's presidential flirtation.

"President Bachmann, where are you?" Rehberg said, introducing the congresswoman on Saturday. "That sounds all right, doesn't it?"

Tester has already criticized Rehberg for kicking off his campaign alongside the Tea Party favorite.

-Updated at 10:50 a.m.