A 66-year-old man was taken into custody on federal charges after allegedly issuing violent threats against Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and other officials.
Authorities apprehended Frank Lucio Carillo in Winchester, Virginia, following reports that he made “multiple threats of violence” on social media directed at the vice president, President Joe Biden, and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
The FBI’s Phoenix Office was reportedly alerted to threats made against Harris on the social media platform GETTR in July.
“Open political discourse is a fundamental aspect of our American experience. We can have disagreements, debates, and discussions. However, when those disagreements escalate to threats of violence, it is imperative for law enforcement to take action,” stated U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia in a press release.
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Frank Carillo was arrested in connection to violent threats made against Vice President Harris. (Roanoke City Jail)
Carillo, who used the username “joemadarats1,” allegedly referenced Harris 19 times on his social media page, according to the attorney’s office for the Western District of Virginia.
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One post shared by the attorney’s office featured Carillo stating: “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.”
During a search of Carillo’s residence, authorities confiscated a 9mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Vice President Kamala Harris attends an infrastructure event discussing high-speed internet in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building’s South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 3, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein)
“The FBI’s mission is to safeguard the American public. We regard all threats of violence with utmost seriousness and will pursue investigations to the fullest extent to hold those accountable,” remarked Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division.
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Carillo made his initial court appearance on Monday.
