The Pew Charitable Trusts

New Hampshire law enforcement authorities, including the state attorney general and state police, are responding to an incident last Friday (November 18) in which a group of state legislators and others reportedly became unruly after state election officials denied their request to remove President Obama from the state's 2012 ballot.

Members of the group, which was led by a California attorney who has challenged the president's citizenship in a number of states, allegedly threatened New Hampshire officials who deemed their request invalid, The Union-Leader of Manchester reports . The hearing is reported to have become so hostile that two state officials had to lock themselves in an office "out of fear for their safety due to the aggressive behavior of the crowd that included several legislators," as the paper puts it.

One of the two state employees who allegedly locked himself in the office is a deputy of Attorney General Michael Delaney, who has asked both state police and legislative leaders to investigate the incident.

"I am extremely concerned that a member of my staff was put in a position of fearing for his safety during a public hearing based in part on the conduct of members of the (New Hampshire legislature)," Delaney said in a letter to state police, according to The Union-Leader . "I welcome your recommendations as to how to ensure that such a situation does not repeat itself, and what security measures may be available for members of my office requesting additional security in performance of their official duties."

Delaney also wrote to New Hampshire House Speaker William O'Brien and complained about the alleged conduct of some legislators. "No state employee should find himself in this situation," that letter says, "and I am asking the (legislature) to take whatever steps it deems appropriate concerning the standards of conduct exhibited by these elected officials."

O'Brien has asked another law enforcement agency, protective services, to look into the incident, The Union-Leader notes.