where he lives, after investigators connected him to a series of
profanity-laced phone messages left at Murray’s office shortly after
the
The messages reportedly said Murray had a “target on
her back” because of her vote, warned of a “growing hatred” in the
nation and said it would be only a matter of time before someone would
breach her security and put a “(expletive) gun to your head and blow
your (expletive) brains out.”
Threatening a public official is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a
“Free speech is the cornerstone of our democratic process, and we are a country of vigorous debate,”
said in a statement. “However, threats of violence have no place in
that debate. The threats here crossed the line, and violate the law.”
Wilson was scheduled to make his initial appearance in a
In a statement, Murray’s office said it originally notified the
“As this is an ongoing
The allegations against Wilson come just days after Democratic leaders in the
said that at least 10 of their members had received threats since the
health care vote and some had sought additional security protection.
charged that Democrats were using the reports of threats against their
members as a “political weapon” against Republicans.
“The
According to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S.
attorney’s office, Wilson allegedly called Murray’s office numerous
times over the past several months, and while he used vulgar and
offensive language he didn’t make overt threats, the complaint said.
Almost immediately after the health care vote the calls turned threatening, according to the complaint.
“Now that you’ve passed your health care bill, let
the violence begin,” Wilson is accused of saying in one call. In
another, he allegedly said he wasn’t a member of the tea party or the
Republican or Democratic parties, but that Murray was a “marked person”
for the rest of her life.
Wilson told
carries a gun with a concealed weapons permit and that he was
“extremely angry” about the passage of the health care bill, the
complaint said. A .38-caliber
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