Former congressional candidate William Braddock has been charged with threatening to kill Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) in 2021. Braddock’s threats, which were caught on audio, included remarks about using a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to harm Luna. The recording was made by a conservative activist and became key evidence in the case.
Braddock was heard on the recording referring to Luna as a “dead squirrel” and stating that he didn’t want to end anyone’s life but would do so if necessary. His threatening remarks led to a judge issuing a restraining order against him. Braddock denied making any threats, claiming the audio may have been altered.
After leaving the US, Braddock traveled to the Philippines, where he was later extradited back to face charges. The Justice Department charged him with interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person. He appeared in federal court in Los Angeles last week.
Rep. Luna, who won her congressional seat in 2023, recently revealed that her office had been targeted by another serious threat. Luna, however, has refrained from sharing additional details due to an ongoing investigation. This latest case has reignited concerns about the safety of public officials, with many calling for stronger measures to protect them from violent threats.
