ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) -- 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 threatening calls stemmed from frustration over receiving an overwhelming amount of unwanted political emails.
In September 2021, as stated by federal prosecutors, Welton communicated with an employee at Tillis' Raleigh office and threateningly declared he would come and "shoot each one of [them] between the eyes."
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 his team is not just vile but also disrespectful to our democratic governmental structure," stated acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. "We at my office remain committed to collaborating closely with our fellow law enforcement agencies to probe and pursue anyone who threatens or coerces public servants, ensuring these vital roles can be executed without hindrance.
Robert M. DeWitt, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, stated, "Making violent threats against individuals is completely unacceptable. However, such threats aimed at elected representatives can hinder their capacity to adequately serve their community and nation. The FBI refuses to accept this kind of coercion under any circumstances, particularly when it targets those involved in sustaining our democratic processes."
Welton pleaded guilty to one count of threatening to kill a federal official on account of his duties. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is scheduled to be sentenced in July, according to federal prosecutors.
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