Court documents reveal that an individual from Alaska, Arther Charles Graham, was taken into custody on Monday for reportedly transmitting a menacing message to a United States senator. The message explicitly stated his intentions to pursue and cause physical harm to the senator. The Department of Justice has pressed charges against Graham for making interstate threats with the aim of kidnapping and causing harm to the sitting senator.
A 46-year-old individual sent a threat via a web form submission on September 28, as stated in an affidavit. Staff members from the senator's Washington, DC office informed the US Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section four days following the incident. CNN has contacted Graham's lawyer for a comment.
The senator's identity is not disclosed in court documents, being referred to only as "she" and "her." Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, the sole female Alaska senator, has been contacted by CNN for her input. This incident deepens worries regarding the escalation of threats towards elected and public officials. There have been instances of online and offline calls for violence against lawmakers and their families, raising concerns about their safety.
According to court documents, Graham stated that he was on the verge of being evicted and had no alternative place to live. He threatened to find and physically harm the senator, as expressed in his writings. The email address linked to the threat was traced back to Graham, who had also confirmed his identity in the threat.
Graham confessed to the FBI in an interview that he had sent the email. According to a statement from the Justice Department, Graham was apprehended by special agents from the U.S. Capitol Police and FBI on October 30. He is set to make his first appearance before a US magistrate judge on November 3.
Graham could receive up to five years in prison, as stated by the Justice Department, if found guilty. The Justice Department reported that the investigation is being carried out by the US Capitol Police in collaboration with the FBI Anchorage Field Office, Kenai Police Department, and Alaska State Troopers.
