It is rare but it has happened in the past. The first example that comes to mind is the public beating (kicking?) that Capone gave to the mayor of Cicero when he did something that Capone didn't like.
http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/msg95404.html
Then there was the Outfit takeover of the black policy rackets in the forties and fifties, which saw intimidation directed at a number of politicians.
http://www.uic.edu/orgs/kbc/ganghistory/Ghetto/Blackmafia.pdfThis area continued to grow until the 1970’s when most of the West Side of Chicago became entirely black. “Big Jim” Martin ran policy on the West Side from his tavern in the 1900 block of West Lake Street. On October 1, 1940, the Outfit planted a
bomb at Martin’s resort and made a demand for $20,000. Martin reportedly ignored the demand because he was also the political leader of the West Side black community. Martin’s operations were centered in the 28th Ward, home of Democratic powerhouse Pat Nash.
The Outfit eventually made Martin the same offer that they had made the Jones brothers. When Martin refused to switch allegiance to the Outfit, he was shot on November 15, 1950. The assailant was future mob boss John P. “Jackie” Cerone. Left for dead, Martin recovered and following the example of the Jones brothers left Chicago. It appears that the political protection that Martin once held was gone. George Kells, the Wards Alderman had resigned citing the ill health of his wife. His wife’s problems stemmed from the threatening telephone calls that she had received from syndicate gangsters suggesting that it was ill advised for her husband to seek reelection.
I seem to remember another Black political leader in Chicago having a similar issue in the early sixties but I can't recall the name now.
Some people mutter that the Leon Jordan murder was mob related.
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/31/2375644/evidence-points-to-mob-associates.htmlThen of course we can talk about Anton Cermak, who did try to eliminate Nitti and was assassinated himself shortly afterwards in what may have been a pure coincidence..
I don't know of any book that ties all this together. If you look beyond "traditional" organized crime I know you can find tons of examples of such threats or intimidation.
I would guess that to the extent that an organization's political power or wealth swells, the less that they need to rely on cruder tactics. But if no one is looking and it's a small time politician or a particularly stupid or irritated criminal, why not?
