A Georgia man has been arrested on charges of threatening FBI Director Christopher Wray, the Justice Department announced Thursday.
John Woodbury, 34, of Roswell, Georgia, posted in June to 4chan.org a message that threatened officials, including Mr. Wray, according to the indictment.
“Let’s show them what a [expletive] ’Nazi’ … looks like …. It’s time to burn these [expletive] down and hang them from trees. Hit them where it [expletive] hurts. Hit Chris at his home. Make his family fear stepping one foot outside their [expletive] door,” the message read.
Mr. Woodbury was arrested and arraigned Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas. A grand jury indicted him on July 9.
“Sending threats to physically harm a public official in an attempt to thwart the administration of justice is a criminal offense,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia.
“Director Wray and other law enforcement officials work tirelessly to safeguard our freedoms and to protect our citizens from harm. Threats against such public servants, who have dedicated themselves to enforcing our criminal laws, is especially heinous. Our office will remain steadfast in helping to ensure that public officials are able to carry out their duties free from fear or intimidation.”
A conviction on charges of threatening a federal official can incur a fine and 10 years in prison.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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