Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington

AUSTIN — Rep. Tony Tinderholt has been placed under Texas Department of Public Safety protection after receiving a number of death threats over his bill to abolish abortion in Texas, according to his political consultant Luke Macias.

Macias said there is an investigation into multiple death threats the Arlington Republican and his family have received, as first reported by the Texas Observer. He said the Arlington Police Department and the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office have also been involved.

"All involved have done an incredible job protecting his family during this stressful time," Macias said in a prepared statement.

Tom Vinger, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, could not confirm that Tinderholt was under protection and said "We don't discuss security matters."

Tinderholt started receiving threats after Jan. 11, when he filed a bill to criminalize abortion: the Abolition of Abortion in Texas Act. If the bill were to become law, women who have abortions and abortion providers could be charged with murder.

Abortion rights advocates say the bill violates a woman's right to have an abortion.

"This cruel bill is the most extreme measure we've seen at the Texas Legislature," Heather Busby, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, said in a prepared statement this month. "It takes away a pregnant person's legal rights and could open up to investigation and prosecution of anyone who has a miscarriage or who seeks an abortion."

Correction: An earlier version of this story said the Texas Tribune reported this first. It was the Texas Observer.