A Montana man is facing federal charges after prosecutors say he left a stream of antisemitic voicemails threatening to kill Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and members of the governor’s family. Eric Lee Boltz, 51, was charged by criminal complaint on June 3, arrested in Montana, and ordered detained while he awaits transport to the District of Hawaii. The FBI is handling the investigation as federal prosecutors work to move the case to Honolulu for prosecution.
Federal complaint and arrest
U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson announced the case in a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Hawaii, stating that Boltz is charged with sending interstate communications containing threats and with cyberstalking. According to the office, Boltz made an initial appearance in the District of Montana on June 10 and was ordered detained pending transportation to Hawaii. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker is listed as the prosecutor on the case.
What investigators say the voicemails contained
Court records and local reporting say Boltz left a series of threatening, antisemitic voicemails for Gov. Green’s office in December 2025, disguising his voice as he allegedly vowed to kill the governor and his family and to sexually assault the governor’s daughter. When questioned by law enforcement, Boltz told investigators he had left the messages to “shake [Governor Green] up,” according to the documents. Hawaii News Now reported additional details from the complaint and related court filings.
Penalties and legal process
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, each count in the criminal complaint carries a maximum possible penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release if there is a conviction. Prosecutors stress that the charges are only accusations at this stage and that Boltz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Any eventual sentence would be imposed by a federal judge, who would be required to consider statutory sentencing factors and the advisory federal sentencing guidelines. The FBI remains the lead investigative agency while prosecutors in Honolulu prepare for federal proceedings.
Why prosecutors treat threats to officials seriously
Federal and local officials have increasingly moved to prosecute violent threats against public figures as reports of targeted harassment and aggressive political rhetoric continue to mount. Reporting by The Washington Post has documented significant jumps in security spending and formal threat assessments after Jan. 6, 2021, helping explain why threats directed at governors often draw swift federal attention. Local reporting and advocacy groups have also pointed to an uptick in antisemitic incidents in Hawaii, adding another layer of concern around this case.
Boltz remains in custody in Montana while he awaits transportation to Hawaii for further federal proceedings. No trial date has been announced, and prosecutors and the FBI say the case is active and that more information will be released as it moves through the federal court system.
