ROCHESTER, N.Y. (ABC News) — A U.S. citizen residing in Thailand admitted guilt on Wednesday to threatening to harm North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis and his team , federal prosecutors said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina reports that 53-year-old Eric Charles Welton placed numerous disturbing and coercive phone calls to the offices of Republican representatives and GOP groups across the country. He claimed his motive for these menacing calls stemmed from frustration over receiving an overwhelming amount of unwanted political email communications.
In September 2021, as stated by federal prosecutors, Welton contacted a staffer at Tillis' Raleigh office and made threats about showing up to "shoot each of [them] in the head."
Welton also threatened to go to North Carolina and "cut down" the entire "damn state," and locate the individual who sent him an email with the intention of cutting off his hands.
Making threats to murder a public official along with their team is both deplorable and an insult to our democratic governmental structure," stated acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. "We at my office remain committed to collaborating tightly with our colleagues in law enforcement to probe and penalize any acts of menace or coercion directed towards public servants, ensuring they can execute their crucial responsibilities without hindrance.
Robert M. DeWitt, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, stated, "Making violent threats against anybody is completely unacceptable. However, such threats aimed at elected officials can hinder their capacity to properly serve their constituents and nation. The FBI refuses to accept this kind of intimidation under any circumstances, particularly when it targets individuals involved in running our democratic system."
Welton admitted guilt to one charge of making threats aimed at taking the life of a federal official due to his role. He could face up to 10 years behind bars when he gets sentenced in July, as stated by federal prosecutors.
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