The Department of Justice indicted the former primary opponent of Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) for “threatening to kill his primary opponent in the 2021 election for the 13th Congressional District of Florida and a private citizen and acquaintance of his opponent.”

“According to the indictment, William Robert Braddock III, 41, of St. Petersburg, and Victim 1 were candidates in the primary election to represent the 13th Congressional District of Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. Victim 2 was a private citizen and acquaintance of Victim 1,” the Justice Department said in a press release.

“On June 8, 2021, Braddock made several threats to injure and kill Victim 1 and Victim 2 during a telephone call with Victim 2. Specifically, Braddock threatened, in part, to ‘call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad’ and make Victim 1 disappear,” it continued.

“After making the threats, Braddock left the United States and was later found to be residing in the Philippines. Braddock was recently deported from the Philippines to the United States and made his first court appearance yesterday in Los Angeles,” it added.

Per Fox News:

Luna, an Air Force veteran and former media consultant, was not named in the indictment. While she was running for Congress, however, Luna contended in 2021 civil court documents that Braddock, a fellow GOP challenger and former Marine, was stalking her and wanted her dead.

A judge granted Luna and a conservative activist and friend of hers, Erin Olszewski, a temporary restraining order against Braddock. He subsequently dropped out of the race, denying the allegations and citing publicity from the case.

Politico reported at the time that Olszewski had secretly recorded a phone call with Braddock in which he said an alleged “Russian and Ukrainian hit squad” could kill Luna within 24 hours. “Luna’s going to go down and I hope it’s by herself,” Braddock allegedly said in the recording, according to Politico, which said it had obtained the recording in June 2021. “For the better or the good of the majority of the people, we’ve got to sacrifice the few.”

In a text message to Politico then, Braddock reportedly said the tape “may even be altered and edited” and that he may bring civil lawsuits and seek criminal charges against those in possession of the recording.

From The Guardian:

Braddock was charged with one count of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person. If found guilty, he faces up to five years in prison.

The case is part of the justice department’s election threats task force. Launched in June 2021, it addresses threats of violence against election workers.

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.