A former political candidate from Florida has been charged with issuing a death threat to a primary opponent and an acquaintance of the opponent, the Justice Department announced. The indictment accuses William Robert Braddock III, originally from St. Petersburg, of threatening to kill his primary opponent in the 2021 race for the 13th Congressional District of Florida, as well as another individual who was close to the said opponent.
The indictment, which was unveiled on Thursday, details how Braddock allegedly made several threats during a call on June 8, 2021, to "call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad" to have Victim 1 "disappear." Following the indictment, Braddock, who had fled to the Philippines, was recently deported back to the United States and appeared in court for the first time in Los Angeles, this unnerving revelation not only highlights the charged political atmosphere of the time but it raises concerns about the influence of foreign entities in American politics.
Facing a charge of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person, Braddock could spend up to five years in prison if convicted according to the Department of Justice's announcement. His sentencing would be determined by a federal district court judge who will take into consideration the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other statutory factors.
The case is presently under investigation by the FBI's Tampa Field Office with the aid of the St. Petersburg Police Department, and international collaboration has played a key part as well, the Philippine Department of Justice and the Philippine Bureau of Immigration contributed to the considerable assistance in this case, which underscores the increasing global scope often necessary in addressing such matters of threats and perceived political violence.
As part of the Justice Department's effort to protect election workers and maintain the integrity of the electoral process, this case falls under the purview of the Election Threats Task Force, initiated by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in 2021 to address such election-related threats. The task force continues its endeavours, supported by agencies across the Justice Department as well as interagency partners.
For those wishing to report election-related threats or acts of violence, the Justice Department encourages contacting the local FBI office or filing a complaint on the FBI website. Each case submitted is reviewed by the task force and referred accordingly, and in cases of immediate danger, it is recommended to contact local law enforcement or dial 911. It's essential to note that an indictment is only an accusation, and Braddock remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, as reaffirmed by the Justice Department.
More information on these efforts can be found at the Justice Departmet's announcement.
