Harry E. Miller of the Pittsburgh area faces charges for sending threatening messages to members of Congress
PITTSBURGH, PA (STL.News) A suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania resident has been charged by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for posting threatening communications in international trade. This was announced by the US attorney Scott W. Brady.
The indictment with three counts Harry E. Miller, 62, of Ross Township, Pennsylvania, as the Sole Defendant.
“Threatening to harm members of Congress is a crime, not a protected speech,” said US attorney Brady. “As the events of last year show, there are people who intend to harm our officials and law enforcement agencies. We will vigorously and proactively investigate, disrupt and prosecute these individuals if they violate federal law. “
“The threats alleged in this indictment were directed against sedentary lawmakers and crossed a line,” said Michael Christman, the FBI special agent in charge in Pittsburgh. “The first change doesn’t give people the right to threaten someone. Rest assured, the FBI takes all threats seriously and will stop at nothing to let those threatening violence know what the inside of a prison cell looks like. “
“The mission of the United States Capitol Police is to protect Congress, the US Capitol, and everyone who works and visits here. We take all threats against members of Congress very seriously and investigate them fully. I would like to thank our highly trained investigators for their excellent work and our FBI partners and Mr. Brady and his staff for pursuing this case, ”said Yogananda D. Pittman, acting chief of the United States Capitol Police.
According to the indictment, Miller allegedly made threats of harming others in interstate trade. The indictment contains the following three charges:
• On or about August 19, 2019, Miller of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania called the Malden, Massachusetts District Office of US Representative Katherine Clark, saying he was willing to abolish the government by spilling blood by four to five Democrats, including US Representative Katherine Clark, took out that he was going to start shooting black people to keep them informed if he had to, and that the congressional aide [expletive] who will also die in Miller’s impending civil war;
• On or about January 7, 2020, Miller of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania telephoned US Senator Richard Burr’s Washington, DC office and said he would shoot Senator Burr in the head. and
• On or about January 7, 2020, Miller of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania telephoned the Washington, DC office of US Senator Richard Burr, which was transferred to a grand jury person in the state of Tennessee If he were to travel to DC, would be he was ready to shoot four or five senators in the head, and that statement was not a threat but a promise.
The law has a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $ 250,000, or both. According to federal condemnation guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based on the gravity of the offense and, if applicable, on the defendant’s previous history.
United States Assistant Attorney Shardul S. Desai is pursuing this case on behalf of the government.
The FBI and the United States Capitol Police conducted the investigation that led to the indictment in this case.
Miller first appeared in the U.S. District Court before Judge Cynthia Reed Eddy, who cleared Miller for an unsecured loan of $ 25,000.
An indictment is an indictment. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
SOURCE: USDOJ.Today
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