Man charged with threatening Congress members over phone
Posted Apr 19, 2019 2:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TAMARAC, Fla. — Authorities say a Florida man left threatening rants about gun control, illegal immigration, homosexuals, black people and Muslims for three Democratic members of Congress.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 49-year-old John Kless was arrested Friday and charged with making threatening communications.
A federal criminal complaint says Kless called the Washington offices of Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey on Tuesday and left profanity-laden voicemails for each politician. The messages specifically mentioned the elected officials being killed. Swalwell and Booker are both running for president.
Investigators say they traced the phone number back to Kless, who lives in Tamarac, Florida. U.S. Capitol Police previously investigated Kless for a message left in February for Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Court records didn’t list an attorney for Kless.
The Associated Press
