A student at Keene State College in New Hampshire has been arrested after allegedly threatening to kill a member of Congress due to their opposition to “the gays.”
Allan Poller, a 23-year-old college student from Vermont, made a threatening phone call to a member of the House of Representatives on March 29. He left a voicemail for the representative, who was later confirmed to be Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), threatening to kill him.
While the recipient of the threatening phone call was previously unnamed, a spokesperson recently confirmed to News 9 that Gaetz’s office received the threat
“Hi, my name is Allan Poller, A-L-L-A-N P-O-L-L-E-R, phone number []8931. And I just want to let you know, Representative [Name], if you keep on coming for the gays, we’re gonna strike back and I guarantee you, you do not want to f*ck with us,” Poller said in the voicemail. “We will kill you if that’s what it takes. I will take a bullet to your f***inghead if you f*ck with my rights anymore. And then if you want to keep going down that path, you know who’s next.”
Poller was soon arrested by the FBI for this threat and taken into custody.
The college student was charged with “transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another,” according to a press release from the Department of Justice. He is facing “up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.”
Following his arrest, Poller insisted to investigators that he was “emotional and intoxicated” and does not own a firearm.
The suspect has been described by his lawyers as a “peaceful young man and student.”
“He means no ill will toward anybody and does not believe in violence or disruptive protest,” Poller’s lawyers said. “He is mindful of the allegations against him and will allow the legal process to continue without further comment at this time.”
Keene State College has since released a statement saying,
“Keene State College officials are cooperating fully with relevant law enforcement bodies in this emergent situation. While the College supports a culture that embraces the free and open exchange of ideas, it does not condone violence, or threats of violence, as a means for overcoming differences. Keene State College has policies and practices to address actions that run contrary to our values; our Student Code of Conduct explicitly prohibits behaviors that threaten or endanger the health or safety of any person. The College will move forward, diligently, in accordance with its policies and procedures.”
