D.C. prosecutors accused a former Voice of America employee of phoning deadly threats to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, her family and her staff — some of which were placed while he was at his job.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Seth Jason, 64, was arrested Thursday by U.S. Capitol Police at his home in Edgewater, Maryland.
Ms. Pirro said the suspect faces federal charges of making threats on Ms. Greene’s life in eight calls to the Georgia Republican’s offices over 15 months.
“No one should have to live their life looking over their shoulder every day and wondering if those threats are about to be fulfilled and about to come true,” Ms. Pirro said at a press conference. “The threat to have your family murdered as well as yourself is debilitating for a lot of people, and they create a climate of fear and disrupt one’s abilities to actually do their duties.”
Ms. Pirro shared examples of the threats Mr. Jason is charged with making from October 2023 to this past January, including those he dialed in from Voice of America’s control room inside its D.C. studio.
“We’re coming after you and your staff” was one of the threats listed by officials, as well as “I am looking forward to your book signing; we are all armed and ready to take care of you.”
He’s also accused of saying on another call, “We are locked and loaded. We are going to take you all out. We’ve got our AK-47s. You’re going to get one between the eyes. Bam, bam, bam.”
Ms. Pirro said no weapons were seized when the defendant was taken into custody. He made his initial appearance before a judge on Thursday.
She said he also served as a reserve officer with the Anne Arundel County Police Department but didn’t know if that gave him access to weapons.
Ms. Pirro said he retired from Voice of America a couple of months ago.
Mr. Jason’s formal charges are influencing a federal official by threatening a family member, influencing a federal official by threat, interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, and anonymous telecommunications harassment.
If convicted, the defendant could spend up to 17 years behind bars.
