FBI agents arrested an Arizona man last week for threatening to shoot Rep. Martha McSally, a Republican who represents the same Arizona district Gabrielle Giffords represented when she was shot in the head in 2011.
Steve Martan, 58, left three separate expletive-laden messages on McSally’s congressional office voicemail in early May, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in a U.S. District Court in Tuscon. In the first, he talked about wringing the congresswoman’s neck.
“Martha, our sights are set on you,” he said in the second message. “Right between your f——— eyes.”
In the third: “Yeah Martha, your days are numbered.”
Martan admitted making the calls to the FBI, after agents tracked the number back to his cell phone.
He said he was “venting frustrations” with McSally’s congressional votes in support of President Trump, according to the complaint. McSally represents Arizona’s second district.
Martan is a campus monitor at a school in the Tuscon Unified School District, reported the Arizona Daily Star, and he was placed on home assignment as the district investigates the charges.
This is at least the third threat against a U.S. government official in recent weeks.
Rep. Tom Garrett (R-Va.) said he received threats against his family and even his dog last week, leading to a heavy law enforcement presence at a town hall event. And a Tennessee woman was charged for trying to run Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) off the road earlier this month.
NPR’s Scott Detrow reported last week from a town hall event that didn’t get violent but nevertheless showed signs of dangerous polarization.
“Is this what you want in your country? You don’t like what somebody says and they’re an idiot and they’re dishonest and they’re a fraud?” said Rep. Tom MacArthur at that event.
McSally’s District Director C.J. Karamargin worked for Giffords’ office at the time she was shot. He said the recent threats should stand as a “wake-up call” for America.
“We should have robust debates about the future of our country. But threats of violence cross a clear line,” Karamargin said in a statement. “These threats against Congresswoman McSally should be a wake-up call for us all.”
Giffords also released a statement about the threats, through the gun violence prevention PAC she co-founded in 2013.
“No matter where you live or what job you have, you have a right to feel safe in your community, at your workplace, and in your home,” she said.
“Civil discourse and civic engagement are hallmarks of our democracy, but threats and intimidation should never be tolerated.”
Gabby was not shot in the head, look at the photos of her on the stretcher and her fat boy aid that supposedly stopped the bleeding. If officials are in fear for their lives its because they are criminals, they can step down anytime they like, no compassion from me.
They ask for”robust conversation, while to chicken shit to listen………i know..I’ll call the FBI!!!!! LMAO!!! Imskeered!
““We should have robust debates about the future of our country. But threats of violence cross a clear line,” Karamargin said in a statement. “These threats against Congresswoman McSally should be a wake-up call for us all.”
Sure should be, KEEP your Oath and follow the written contract the US Constitution – which is also the supreme law of this land, and the next highest contract and highest law, your own state Constitution.
“Giffords also released a statement about the threats, through the gun violence prevention PAC she co-founded in 2013.”
No surprise there as it was John M. Roll, the chief judge for the United States District Court for Arizona who was going to be testifying in a week, Giffords was NOT the target, and I bet she was not really shot.
Then uses this for a “reason” to work against the people and disarm them. She is carp (deliberately misspelled)
“Sure should be, KEEP your Oath and follow the written contract the US Constitution – which is also the supreme law of this land,…?
Seriously? Are you EVER gonna get this sh#t RIGHT?
THE F%&KING CONSTITUTION IS A POS DOCUMENT THAT IS NULL & VOID, BY VIRTUE OF BEING A THOROUGHLY BROKEN (by the so-called ‘government’) CONTRACT.
This ain’t rokit syense, Homer.
THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND!!!!! F%&K YOUR CONSTITUTION!!!!!
idiot
“No surprise there as it was John M. Roll, the chief judge for the United States District Court for Arizona who was going to be testifying in a week, Giffords was NOT the target, and I bet she was not really shot.”
Many agree, I think the fact the judge’s death is now in the memory hole tends to confirm your statement.
“This is at least the third threat against a U.S. government official in recent weeks.”
Mere ‘threats’ accomplish nothing.
Except when they’re made by jewb#tches to further the absolute control agenda.