HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — For years, the FBI has been warning about the increasing threats against elected officials. The FBI Houston Field Office informed 13 Investigates that the agency is “constantly intercepting threats” against candidates and sitting politicians.
“Unfortunately, these threats against elected officials are not uncommon,” stated Christina Garza, FBI Houston Spokesperson.
Last month, 24-year-old Isaac Ambe Nformangum from Richmond was convicted for threatening Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Federal prosecutors reported that he left a voicemail at the Senator’s Houston office, saying, “You will be found and killed.”
Additionally, 61-year-old Brian Michael Gaherty from Houston was sentenced to 33 months in prison for threatening California Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters. The U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that Gaherty left four vulgar voicemails for the congresswoman, including a threat to “put a cap” between her eyes.
Threats are not limited to men. Earlier this year, Tiffani Shea Gish from Houston was sentenced to 37 months in prison for threatening to have U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon assassinated in front of her family. Judge Cannon is overseeing former President Trump’s legal case regarding classified documents.
On Sunday, the FBI released a statement noting, “It has become a bigger responsibility in recent years as the volume of certain threats increases. As a country and organization, we have seen an increase in threats of violence targeting government officials and institutions, houses of worship, schools, and medical facilities, just to name a few.”
