Man Arrested for Threats against Schiff

 

 

A Connecticut man has been charged with threatening Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena) in a posting on the congressman’s website, federal authorities announced Monday.

Robert Phelps, 62, was arrested Friday on charges of threatening to assault and murder a US official and making interstate threats.

According to federal prosecutors and FBI agents Phelps sent a message in November to Schiff through a meeting request form on the congressman’s website.

According to authorities, the message said, “I want to kill you with my bare hands.” In a section of the calendar asking for the preferred day of the week for the meeting, Phelps wrote, “Measure your Coffin day,” prosecutors said.

He signed it, “Robert M. Phelps Republican,” according to federal agents.

During an interview at his home in December, Phelps reportedly admitted to sending the threat, but did not see it as threatening, federal agents said. Phelps said he “had a right to contact members of Congress and defend ‘his president,’” agents said in the criminal complaint against Phelps.

Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, helped lead the impeachment of President Donald Trump in the U.S. House.

Phelps has posted $25,000 bail.