He was detained Thursday night. A message seeking comment was sent to his lawyer.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss stated in a news release that Johnson was charged with threatening to kill many cable news broadcasters, former and current U.S. senators, and members of the U.S. House”in rage-fueled posts on Instagram and in private messages that were private “
According to court papers, Johnson on Jan. 30 sent a personal message to some cable news broadcaster stating:”you will all be held liable… you will be murdered.”
The figures who were goals of these threats weren’t named in court papers.
A criminal complaint said Johnson in one video posted online attacked supporters of former President Donald Trump, saying they kill police officers.
The criminal complaint said Johnson’s messages endangered by name two additional broadcasters, and also added that Johnson posted people messages on Feb. 3 where he stated he intended to kill two of the same broadcasters.
It said Johnson declared the senator was”dead” and would be”executed,” that Johnson had been”likely to kill” the member of Congress, and the governor”will be executed” and”will be murdered.”
Another public article, the complaint said, was guided mostly in the former House speaker, stating:”I am going to kill you. I’m gonna kill all of you.”
“One of the many great freedoms Americans enjoy is the right to take part in political discourse, and disagreements are natural and healthy; however when invective metastasizes into threats of injury or even death, law enforcement will act quickly to bring the person responsible to justice,” Strauss said.
Dermot Shea, commissioner of the New York Police Department, said Johnson”took aim at the foundations of the shared democracy and lifestyle, threatening not only elected United States officials but many working journalists.”
