Politics

New York man arrested for threatening to murder GOP Rep., family over net neutrality

On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of New York announced that Patrick D. Angelo, 28, of Syracuse, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with interstate communication of a threat, and threatening a federal official over net neutrality. The federal official in this case is Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., the complaint says.

“Listen Mr. Katko, if you support net neutrality, I will support you. But if you don’t support net neutrality, I will find you and your family and I will kill…you…all. Do you understand?”

The voicemail message continued: “I will literally find all…of…you and your progeny and t- just wipe you from the face of the earth. Net neutrality is more important than the defense of the United States. Net neutrality is more important than free speech. Net neutrality is more important than health care. Net neutrality is literally the basis of the new society. That even if you don’t understand, how important it is, net neutrality is literally the basis of the new…free…society. So if you don’t support it, I am willing to lay down my li-.”

The recording ends at that point.

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According to the press release, Congressman Katko’s office reported the voicemail to the United States Capitol Police, Threat Assessment Section, which began an investigation in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The telephone number that the call originated from traced back to the defendant.

“While citizens are certainly entitled to communicate their views on issues of importance to them to their elected officials, there are and must be bounds to the manner in which such views may be expressed, said U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. “We will respond aggressively to those who overstep those bounds and seek to influence the making of Federal policies and legislation by making threats to the lives of those entrusted with such tasks and their families.”

Security surrounding Katko was increased as a result of the threat.

The statement adds:

Since Congressman Katko formerly served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of New York, that Office was recused, and the case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.

Angelo made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks and is being held pending a detention hearing on December 1, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai — who has reportedly been harassed for a proposal repealing most of the FCC’s net neutrality regulations — condemned the threat against Katko.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms any attempts to intimidate government officials with violent threats, and in particular, efforts to target their families. I would also like to express my sympathy to Congressman Katko and his family and thank law enforcement officials for taking this matter seriously,” he said in a statement.

As we’ve reported, threats against Republicans have increased significantly since last November’s election.

One Florida man was arrested after threatening to kill a state GOP lawmaker, saying he was “fed up” with Republicans.

That threat took place just two weeks after Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., and four others were shot by an unhinged Bernie Sanders supporter who was shot dead as he tried to gun down as many Republicans as possible. He was later found with a list of GOP lawmakers, all of whom are members of the conservative Freedom Caucus.

In May, Rep. Tom Garrett, R-Va., said that he and his family have been targeted with credible death threats. One threat even targeted the family dog.

Threats and attempts against GOP lawmakers also come at a time when Hollywood liberals like Michael Shannon and Will Smith have openly expressed hatred against those who voted for Donald Trump.  Liberal media outlets like CNN have also contributed to an environment where leftists feel they have carte blanche to threaten murder against those with whom they disagree.

Worse yet, some in the media, like MSNBC’s Joy Reid, have gone so far as to suggest conservative GOP lawmakers like Scalise deserve to be shot for their point of view.

It’s enough to make one think liberals really do want a second, bloody civil war

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Banned: How Facebook enables militant Islamic jihad
Banned: How Facebook enables militant Islamic jihad – Source: Author (used with permission)

Joe Newby

A 10-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Joe ran for a city council position in Riverside, Calif., in 1991 and managed successful campaigns for the Idaho state legislature. Co-author of "Banned: How Facebook enables militant Islamic jihad," Joe wrote for Examiner.com from 2010 until it closed in 2016 and his work has been published at Newsbusters, Spokane Faith and Values and other sites. He now runs the Conservative Firing Line.

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