A ardent Trump supporter from Oklahoma has been arrested and charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for making online threats against public officials on Facebook and right-wing social media site Parler, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s grandchildren.
Seamus Hughes, an analyst with the George Washington University Program on Extremism, shared details of the arrest and charges against Houck.
The criminal complaint against Houck alleges that posted this on Parler:
“hey mitch, how are your grandkids doing?”
Houck also allegedly threatened violence against Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts:
“Hey justice Roberts, we are coming for you and your illegal adopted kids!! finished! they will get to watch you hang.”
There were also threats aimed at executives of pharmaceutical companies, whom Hauck reportedly said should be executed “on the spot” and killing them “like animals” for “committing attempted murder for years.”
The filing against Houck also alleges that he had this to say about violence against other political figures:
“WE MUST STORM THAT CAPITAL [sic] AND REMOVE THESE PEOPLE BY FORCE!”
Today, the FBI arrested an Oklahoma man, Brad Houck for communicating a threat to a number of elected officials on his Parler and Facebook account on the lead up to January 6th. Detention hearing is Wednesday pic.twitter.com/6axpfxebmg
— Seamus Hughes (@SeamusHughes) February 9, 2021
Former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial begins in the U.S. Senate today, and it seems that many of his supporters are far from ready to let the 2020 election results stand. He has lied to them for years and now they believe every word he says. It’s just one of many reasons Trump needs to be found guilty and barred from ever holding office again. He also needs to be charged for his role in the January 6 storming of the Capitol that led to the deaths of five people, including a member of the Capitol Police.
Featured Image Via NBC News
