Washington, July 07: An Oregon man has been arrested to face charges after he threatened to kill US President Barack Obama and the president’s family.
Darryl James Swanson made threats in phone calls to federal prosecutors’ offices in Oregon and Washington, a county government office in Florida, and the Associated Press, prosecutors said.
On May 2, he had called the AP bureau in Seattle, leaving a message that said he would seek weapons to shoot the president and his family.
“I may have to get in touch with al-Qaeda and get a hold of at least one, possibly two good working machine guns and blast my way into the White House,” the voicemail said.
Swanson’s arraignment was set for next month, when he will enter a plea.
Appearing in federal court on Tuesday, Swanson consented through his public defender to a mental health evaluation.
The Secret Service did not find weapons in Swanson’s apartment and warned him not to make threats against the president.
But authorities say he continued leaving the angry and threatening messages at the government offices.
——-Agencies