Patrick Angelo Syracuse lost it one night over net neutrality. So he left a death threat on New York Representative’s John Katko’s voicemail. It wasn’t a winning idea.
A lot people are pissed f that net neutrality is getting repealed. In fact, all the polls we’ve seen suggest that most Americans hate the FCC’s recent rollback.
Well, this guy really, really — really — hates it. That hatred boiled into a voicemail death threat to Representative John Katko and his family.
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We don’t have the actual recording (send it to email protected] if you do). But here’s what the message bomb sounded like.
“Listen Mr. Katko, if you support net neutrality, I will support you. But if you don’t support net neutrality, I will find you and your family and I will kill … you … all. Do you understand?”
” ‘I will literally find all … … you and your progeny and t- (sic) just wipe you from the face the Earth. Net neutrality is more important than the defense the United States. Net neutrality is more important than free speech. Net neutrality is more important than health care. Net neutrality is literally the basis the new society. That even if you don’t understand, how important it is, net neutrality is literally the basis the new … free … society. So if you don’t support it, I am willing to lay down my li-‘ (recording ends).”
Katko represents New York’s 24th District, which includes all Wayne County.
The Congressman received this message last year from Patrick D. Angelo, 29, Syracuse. Accordingly, the U.S. Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section is now handling the case and seeking prosecution. The Threat Assessment team initiated a joint investigation with the FBI and traced the threat to Angelo’s telephone number.
Because the representative previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District New York, that fice was recused. The Western District New York is now handling the case.
Angelo pleaded guilty to interstate communication a threat. The charge carries a maximum five years in federal prison and a fine $250,000. Sentencing is at 10 a.m. June 21 by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.
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All which means that Angelo is facing the possibility a multi-year imprisonment. In fact, he’s likely to receive both prison and a fine, just as an example (and we’re probably not helping Angelo’s case by reporting about it).
And who else is getting a bunch death threats?
You guessed it: FCC chairman Ajit Pai. In fact, Pai has reportedly been receiving multiple death threats, which also include his family. Pai recently cancelled his longstanding keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, allegedly because security concerns.
Accordingly, Pai fered strong words on the matter.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms any attempts to intimidate government ficials with violent threats, and in particular, efforts to target their families. I would also like to express my sympathy to Congressman Katko and his family and thank law enforcement ficials for taking this matter seriously.”
