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Florida Man Arrested for Threatening Rep. Eric Swalwell, Two Other Members of Congress

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Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) speaks to guests during an event at the Iowa City Public Library on Feb. 18, 2019. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Authorities say a Florida man left threatening rants about gun control, illegal immigration, homosexuals, black people and Muslims for three Democratic members of Congress: Sen. Cory Booker (New Jersey), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (Michigan) and Rep. Eric Swalwell, who represents the East Bay.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 49-year-old John Kless was arrested Friday and charged with making threatening communications.

The federal criminal complaint says Kless called the Washington offices of all three on Tuesday and left profanity-laden voicemails. The messages specifically mentioned the elected officials being killed. Warning: The complaint, embedded at the bottom of the article, contains incredibly graphic language.

"The day you come after our guns, motherf*****, is the day you'll be dead," said the voicemail left for Swalwell. Kless also referred repeatedly to the representative's "Taliban friends" and used extremely derogatory slurs.

Investigators say they traced the phone number back to Kless, who lives in Tamarac, Florida. U.S. Capitol Police previously investigated Kless for a message left in February for Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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Kless made an initial appearance in court in Florida, and was released on a $25,000 bond with a GPS monitor and a requirement that he stay away from guns and the people he threatened.

Swalwell had previously shared a portion of another voicemail he received on Twitter, with the comment, "I'm not afraid of this guy...No fear."

Swalwell also thanked the Capitol police and Florida law enforcement for protecting his staff and constituents. Both Swalwell and Booker are currently among the Democrats running for president.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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