Man charged with threatening President Biden Rep Thompson judge in letter

Man charged with threatening President Biden Rep Thompson judge in letter

Man charged with threatening President Biden, Rep. Thompson, judge in letter
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Man charged over death threats to Biden and Rep Bennie Thompson

Rep. Bennie Thompson, Chair of the House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol, delivers remarks during a hearing in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images A Pennsylvania man was indicted Wednesday for allegedly threatening to kill President Biden, House Jan. 6 select committee (D-Miss.) and a U.S. District Court judge, the Department of Justice announced. Driving the news: Prosecutors accuse Robert Maverick Vargo of sending a letter "alluding to 'Anthrax,' and containing what appeared to be a white powder" to Thompson's office last week — days before their on the U.S. Capitol riot and voted to .The letter "specifically referenced" Thompson's role with the panel and also threatened his family and Judge Robert Mariani, according to the DOJ . It allegedly stated: "Im going to kill you! I will make you feel the rest of our pain & suffering. There is nowhere or nobody who can keep you from me. I am going to kill you & those you love. I promise you that I will keep my promise until the day of my death. ... You & Joe Biden soon will face death for the wrongs you've done to US."— Excerpt from letter sent to Thompson's office, according to the DOJ Of note: Prosecutors allege that Vargo, from Berwick, Pennsylvania, sent the letter from the state's Luzerne County Correctional Facility. For the record: A U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) investigation "determined that the white powder accompanying the threats did not pose an immediate public safety hazard," according to the Justice Department. Where it stands: A federal grand jury indicted the 25-year-old Vargo on charges of threatening the President of the United States, interstate communications with a threat and influencing a federal official by threat. What we're watching: If found guilty, Vargo could face up to 25 years in prison. The big picture: Threats against lawmakers have been rising for years. But there's been since the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection — prompting the USCP to take steps to better monitor and investigate threats.Data shared with Axios last June showed threats investigated by U.S. Capitol Police jumped 144% between the first year of Trump's term and the first year of Biden's.The House sergeant-at-arms office security equipment and installation costs at House members' personal residences in August in response to . Go deeper: Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
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