The Division of Justice introduced an unsealed indictment charging a Florida man with threatening to kill his major opponent within the state’s thirteenth congressional district, in addition to a personal citizen who was additionally an acquaintance of the opponent in 2021.
The Justice Division’s press launch didn’t title the 2 alleged victims.
William Robert Braddock III of St. Petersburg, Fla. was charged with one depend of interstate transmission of a real risk to injure one other individual. He may face a most of 5 years in jail.
The DOJ stated the indictment revealed Braddock made “several threats to injure” the 2 victims in a telephone name to the sufferer who was a personal citizen and acquaintance of the opponent.
Braddock ran in opposition to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) through the 2022 major, who gained the seat.
In 2021, NBC reported Luna had claimed in courtroom paperwork that Braddock “[was] stalking her and [wanted] her dead.” She had filed a petition for a everlasting restraining order, to which the decide granted a brief one for her and a good friend of hers following the allegations.
In response to the DOJ, Braddock partly threatened to “call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” and make his opponent disappear.
The discharge famous that following the threats, Braddock left the U.S. and was later discovered dwelling within the Philippines. He was lately deported from the nation and had his first courtroom look in Los Angeles on Thursday.
The FBI Tampa Discipline Workplace is investigating the case with help from the St. Petersburg Police Division, the DOJ stated. NBC reported that it’s unclear whether or not Braddock has entered a plea.
The Hill has contacted Luna’s press workplace for remark. Braddock couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.
