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A Virginia man has been charged with making a series of violent death threats against Vice President Kamala Harris, just days after she was declared the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.
Frank Lucio Carillo, 45, from Winchester, Virginia, was arrested on Friday and appeared in US District Court in Roanoke on Monday to face a federal felony charge that could land him up to five years in prison.
The FBI’s investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of threats emanating from Carillo’s account on the social media platform GETTR. Authorities discovered nearly 20 violent threats directed at Harris, including explicit threats to kill her and her family, along with horrific plans to inflict severe physical harm. One of the posts from July 27 read, “Kamala Harris needs to be put on fire alive. I will do it personally if no one else does it. I want her to suffer a slow agonizing death.”
What we know so far-
Extensive threats: Carillo, using the GETTR account “joemadarats1,” made a total of 4,359 posts and replies targeting various public figures, including President Joe Biden, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and other officials. The FBI linked this account to Carillo through their investigation.
Additional threats: Besides Harris, Carillo’s threats extended to other officials and groups. He had posted about firearms and shooting people, and expressed violent intentions toward various targets, including Muslims and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Weapon seizure: During the search of Carillo’s home, federal agents seized a pistol, an AR-15 assault rifle, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Carillo had boasted about his AR-15 being “LOCKED AND LOADED” in a February post.
Social media context: GETTR, the platform where Carillo made these threats, is a conservative social media site created as an alternative to mainstream platforms. It has been associated with right-wing users and was launched by Trump ally Jason Miller. The site has faced its share of controversies and legal issues.
Escalating threats: This case highlights a troubling trend of increasing threats against public officials. The U.S. Capitol Police reported over 8,000 threats against members of Congress last year, a significant rise from previous years.
Carillo’s reaction: After his arrest, Carillo reportedly questioned the severity of the situation, asking, “This is all over a comment, huh?” His lawyer’s details have not been made public yet.
Frank Lucio Carillo, 45, from Winchester, Virginia, was arrested on Friday and appeared in US District Court in Roanoke on Monday to face a federal felony charge that could land him up to five years in prison.
The FBI’s investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of threats emanating from Carillo’s account on the social media platform GETTR. Authorities discovered nearly 20 violent threats directed at Harris, including explicit threats to kill her and her family, along with horrific plans to inflict severe physical harm. One of the posts from July 27 read, “Kamala Harris needs to be put on fire alive. I will do it personally if no one else does it. I want her to suffer a slow agonizing death.”
What we know so far-
Extensive threats: Carillo, using the GETTR account “joemadarats1,” made a total of 4,359 posts and replies targeting various public figures, including President Joe Biden, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and other officials. The FBI linked this account to Carillo through their investigation.
Additional threats: Besides Harris, Carillo’s threats extended to other officials and groups. He had posted about firearms and shooting people, and expressed violent intentions toward various targets, including Muslims and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Weapon seizure: During the search of Carillo’s home, federal agents seized a pistol, an AR-15 assault rifle, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Carillo had boasted about his AR-15 being “LOCKED AND LOADED” in a February post.
Social media context: GETTR, the platform where Carillo made these threats, is a conservative social media site created as an alternative to mainstream platforms. It has been associated with right-wing users and was launched by Trump ally Jason Miller. The site has faced its share of controversies and legal issues.
Escalating threats: This case highlights a troubling trend of increasing threats against public officials. The U.S. Capitol Police reported over 8,000 threats against members of Congress last year, a significant rise from previous years.
Carillo’s reaction: After his arrest, Carillo reportedly questioned the severity of the situation, asking, “This is all over a comment, huh?” His lawyer’s details have not been made public yet.
