Posted on 03/02/2012 7:42:43 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
MADISON — A Portland, Maine, man accused of threatening Gov. Scott Walker, as well as the governor of Maine and several members of Congress, remains behind bars nearly a year after his arrest on multiple felony charges.
Michael Thomas was indicted in October on charges of threatening members of Congress, mailing threatening communications, illegally possessing a firearm, interstate stalking and creating a terrorist hoax. He remains in custody in Portland, Maine.
According to a Wisconsin Department of Justice incident report obtained by Wisconsin Reporter, a half-page document mailed to Walker on March 15, 2011 — similar to one mailed to U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both Republicans — stated that Republicans have no respect for the rule of law.
The letter said the governor of Wisconsin should be killed and that Walker and several other governors must resign immediately “or we cannot guarantee your continued safety.” The letter concludes, “You have been warned."
“FBI Boston office has opened a case on these letters. Local WI FBI office has been notified,” the DOJ incident report says.
Thomas was arrested March 25, and agents found an ammunition clip in his desk drawer, according to testimony from FBI Special Agent Pamela Flick. He reportedly told authorities that, had they shown up later, he would have fired on them.
Thomas is accused of sending Maine Gov. Paul LePage three letters, stating, among other threats, that the author was willing to sacrifice his life to shoot the governor, according to the March 31, 2011, edition of the Portland Press Herald. The suspect told agents that he would follow through on his threats if he had the means.
“This is escalating behavior. This is a very dangerous individual,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Neumann told the newspaper last year. “The defendant has done nothing but instill fear in the victim and the community.”
It is for that posed threat, according to court documents, that Thomas has remained in federal custody for nearly a year without bail.
“There is serious risk the defendant would endanger another or the community,” according to records at the U.S. District Court in Portland.
Thomas could go to trial after April 2 jury selection day for federal cases. Motions to continue or pleadings must happen before then.
Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie declined to comment on the case.
Police said they identified Thomas through DNA from a letter sent to LePage.
He also was charged with making threats against U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut, and with mailing a letter with powder to Massachusetts.
Thomas faces sentences of up to 10 years in prison on charges of threatening members of Congress, and five years on charges of threatening the governors.
Makes me wonder about that "teachers' aide" who threatened our Senators? What ever happened to her? Last I heard -- NOTHING.
Wisconsin Walker Death Threat Ping
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
This guy obviously an idiot. Why would a person from Maine care about the state business of Wisconsin? Hopefully this guy is put in jail for a long time, but moreso, I hope he gets some psychological help.
Coulda fooled me...
/johnny
...must be Palin’s fault somehow! (sarc)
I love the bit about Republicans don’t respect the rule of law - so funny
Why would a guy from Chicago, New Orleans, California, Rhode Island, [insert your favorite name here] care about the business of Wisconsin? We've had them all here, courtesy of the unions. They protest, circulate recall petitions, and they vote. I wish they'd all go home.
Hey, they don’t call people residing there ‘Maine-iacs’ for nothing...
Don’t beat yourself up over it...it has to be reported somewhere to even find out. Shocked this didn’t quite make the JS Online...
“Nearly a year”???
October—November—December—January—February-—
That is only 5 months.
A YEAR has 12 months, which I learned in about 2nd grade.
5 MONTHS is hardly a “nearly a year” statement of time.
Is there ANY “JOURNALIST” in the USA who can tell a story properly????
No wonder we don’t trust the media!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.