A Pennsylvania man was indicted Wednesday for allegedly sending a letter threatening the president, a congressman and a judge.
Robert Maverick Vargo, 25, of Berwick allegedly mailed a letter that was received by staff October 11 containing white powder and referencing anthrax to Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS). The powder was tested by Capitol Police who determined it posed no threat to human life.
It is unclear why police suspected anthrax, since the U.S. Postal Service installed automated anthrax testing devices at all processing centers in 2006.
Fox News further reported:
Vargo is formally charged with threatening the president, sending interstate communications with a threat and influencing a federal official by threat.
The letter included threats to kill Biden, Thompson and his family, and U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani. Thompson is the chairman of the House Select Committee investigating the U.S. Capitol Riot on Jan. 6.
The letter also alluded to “Anthrax” and contained what appeared to be a white powder.
“I’m going to kill you! I will make you feel the rest of our pain & suffering,” prosecutors said Vargo wrote in the letter. “There is nowhere or nobody who can keep you from me.”
The letter continued: “I am going to kill you & those you love. I promise you that I will keep my promise until the day of my death. You & Joe Biden soon will face death for the wrongs you’ve done to US.”
The letter was received by congressional staff inside the Rayburn House Office Building on Oct. 11. It prompted a shelter-in-place call for offices near Thompson’s, although an all-clear was given later that same day.
Investigators alleged the threatening letter was sent by Vargo from the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
U.S. Capitol Police, Protective Service Bureau and the U.S. Secret Service are still investigating the incident.
