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April 6, 2010 in Region
Selah man charged with threatening Sen. Patty Murray
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., is seen in Seattle in this March 30, 2010, photograph.
(Full-size photo)
SEATTLE — A Washington state man has been charged with threatening to kill Democratic Sen. Patty Murray over her support for health care reform, leaving voicemail messages at her office saying she had a target on her back and “it only takes one piece of lead.”
Federal agents arrested Charles Alan Wilson, 63, without incident in Yakima on Tuesday.
Murray’s office in Seattle reported the threats amid a rash of ugliness aimed at lawmakers who supported the sweeping federal health care legislation. Some lawmakers have been spit on and several have reported receiving threatening calls.
FBI spokesman Bill Carter said Wilson is believed to be the first person in the country arrested for such threats.
The messages to Murray were left on voicemail from a blocked telephone number, FBI Special Agent Carolyn W. Woodbury wrote in a probable cause statement. Agents said they traced the calls to Wilson’s home in Selah, near Yakima.
Wilson has a .38-caliber revolver registered to him and has a concealed carry permit for it, Woodbury wrote.
To confirm Wilson was the caller, one agent telephoned him and posed as a member of a group working to repeal the health care legislation, the statement said.
According to a excerpt of the conversation, Wilson confirmed he repeatedly called Murray as well as Washington’s other Democratic senator, Maria Cantwell. He then stated: “I do pack, and I will not blink when I’m confronted. … It’s not a threat, it’s a guarantee.”
Murray’s office told the FBI it had been receiving harassing messages from the caller for months, but they became more threatening as Congress was voting on the health care legislation.
“There’s a target on your back now,” said one message on March 22. “It only takes one piece of lead. Kill the (expletive) senator! … Now that you’ve passed your health-care bill, let the violence begin.”
In other messages over the next several days, the caller said, “I hope somebody puts a (expletive) bullet between your (expletive) eyes,” and “I do believe that every one of you (expletive) socialist democratic progressive (expletives) need to be taken out.”
And, he said, “I want to (expletive) kill you.”
Wilson made an initial appearance at federal court in Yakima on Tuesday on one count of threatening a federal official. He was appointed a public defender for the hearing and ordered to be kept in custody pending a detention hearing set for Friday.
His sister, Helen Evans, 60, of Yakima, attended the hearing and said her brother had no history of making threats. She last saw him a couple of weeks ago, she said, and they spoke about snowmobiling.
“Obviously my brother crossed over a line, if this is true,” she said. “But also, what can I believe when I read it? I’m not going to judge or make any assessments until I talk to him.”
Murray declined to comment on the case but told reporters outside an event in Seattle on Tuesday that she feels safe.
“Health care reform and health care is very personal,” Murray said. “As gradually this goes into effect, people will start to say, ’Wow, I didn’t know that was going to help me.’ Even those who are opposed and angry today, this bill helps them.”
© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Children permitted at Washington prison powwows 
spokanada on April 06 at 12:40 p.m.
what an idiot. A real American Idiot leaving death threats on voicemail from a blocked number.
Way to make your family proud!
empyrius on April 06 at 12:44 p.m.
Talk about “Charlie Wilson’s war”: har har har har!
Those right-wingers may be dangerously violent, but, “Agents say they traced the calls to Wilson’s home”. The double digit IQers are way too funny, if they could not also be quite so violent!
Remember you crazies, I am anti-U.S. government too, just peacefully so, so you and I have no problems . . .
misjustice on April 06 at 12:55 p.m.
KREM 2’s story stated this man was 64, maybe he was mad about government hands being all over his medicare; guess he didn’t realize that the fancy schmancy telephone thingy gives law enforcement a way to track death threats made against Senators and other elected officials, right back to him. Oops!
Loudin on April 06 at 2:13 p.m.
Another Perspective = “Flag as inappropriate.”
‘nuff said, Wingnut!
Loudin on April 06 at 2:17 p.m.
Enjoy your stay in prison, Mr. Wilson! We won’t miss you, but I have to say it’s ironic you’ll be on the taxpayers’ dole for the next 3-5 years…
Idiot.
addyh on April 06 at 2:38 p.m.
Loudin’s first comment is referring to a post that was taken down…
misjustice on April 06 at 3:00 p.m.
Thank you Addy.
chefxh on April 06 at 3:01 p.m.
Good lord. As the SR says, “please keep it civil.”
johnclarke on April 06 at 3:30 p.m.
If he is 63, it’s two years until he can be mad about his free socialist health care. Right about the time he gets out of prison -oh wait he’ll get socialist health care in prison…never mind.
maria on April 06 at 5:01 p.m.
Here’s the link to the complaint:
Warning: Foul languange incl. in some pages
http://www.scribd.com/doc/29502032/Complaint-For-Charles-Alan-Wilson
leekinny on April 06 at 5:10 p.m.
Fear is a great motivating force for violence.
Fear of ideas,
cultures,
that others will change what those around you believe
or
leave you with less than you now have.
selfishness
seeks to justify
subjugation of others
dehumanizing hate
as its authority.
misjustice on April 06 at 6:09 p.m.
Maria, thanks for the link…very violent, very frightening, very foul…I stopped reading after page 5; couldn’t take anymore of the filth. But thanks for providing the link so we could get the larger picture of the threats that this man made….disgusting.
On a lighter note, thanks for your poem leekinney. I needed it after reading parts of the legal complaint. : )
leekinny on April 06 at 6:29 p.m.
Fear has been used to manipulate the American people on many issues, with Iraq and the Patriot Act, being among the most notable examples, from the Bushies. Conspiracy theories about our, President Obama, and every one to the left of, wherever the tea party stands, have been a continuation of those vulgarities.
Reactionary right wing radio and FOX news have participated with the Neocons and corporate interests in getting a message out benefiting only them, without regard to what’s best for the United States or it’s citizens. They’ve used their mesmerized viewers like putty in their hands to unwittingly bend them to their will.
This is what propaganda is. It’s also why Glenn, Rush, Sean and the rest of hate radio and FOX news are guilty of working against the American people, it’s government and our national interests.
misjustice on April 06 at 6:35 p.m.
The hate merchants are guilty of sedition…pure and simple.
leekinny on April 06 at 7:01 p.m.
I’m not sure I would want to use the word sedition, but it does seem something similar would apply. And it;s not just them. Those prodigal corporations that were given extravagant tax breaks in the name of trickle down (voodoo) economics and invested them selfishly in other countries, often to the detriment of those workers (children & slaves) rather than their own nation, as was promised, are similarly guilty.
Another_Perspective on April 06 at 7:26 p.m.
Loudin = “Flag as inappropriate.”
‘nuff said, Wingnut!
and get that bra off your head.
misjustice on April 06 at 7:34 p.m.
Well, welcome back anotherperspective…I belive that Loudin’s avatar is wearing headgear that wrestlers wear while competing, not a bra…although that would be funny! Remember, we can disagree without the personal attacks…attack the idea not the person…we all spout off at times and emotions can run high but you don’t need to launch personal attacks…else you’ll get your post removed, again…
; )
misjustice on April 06 at 7:39 p.m.
“Sedition is a term of law which refers to overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority as tending toward insurrection against the established order.”
ashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Okay, it may be borderline sedition to threaten to kill Senators…I’ll soften my above comment, leekinney…there you go again, bringing out the best in me…geeze…
sledmike on April 06 at 8:10 p.m.
Not to be outdone by ‘reactionary right radio’, the ‘reactionary left radio’….oh…Air America went broke? Dam, now I am going to miss the next episode of Randi Rhoades Spews Vile Hateful Nonsense. I guess Keith Olbermann’s Nutty Conspiracy Theory Playhouse and Rachel Maddow’s Roller Coaster of Histrionics on MSNBC will have to do.
While painting anyone to the right of yourselves as hateful, don’t fail to take note of those residents of your own house who are less than charitable in their assessment of others. Its easy to belittle my comment, maybe even my intellect, without a thought to my beliefs, my charity or my humanity, just because I am conservative. I believe that President Obama is a good person, even though I disagree with him. I don’t believe the Democrats are poised to destroy our country through some evil plot. I do believe that hypocrites on the left have chosen to characterize a nut to their right as representative of all participants……only to gin up fear to suit its own purposes, just as accused of the right. I won’t blame this moron on Limbaugh or Hannity anymore than I would blame the unibomber on MSNBC. Now that was a real extremist by the way…..
leekinny on April 06 at 8:15 p.m.
No, I think your right, threatening to kill senators probably does apply. Yea, some have been way over the top. I just hate the word, although I have used it before, because it was thrown at all of us so often by them.
I’ve used the word fascism some to, in reference to the Neocons, but, usually I’m more comfortable saying fascist-like or that they’re playing with it. However we phrase it, it still sucks.
Diana on April 06 at 8:15 p.m.
Gee, sledmike, maybe it wasn’t Limbaugh or Hannity. Maybe he was just taking his orders from Palin and her crosshairs map.
Loudin on April 06 at 8:30 p.m.
“Another Perspective,”
If you can’t make commentary without putting people down (inre: your comments about “Down’s Syndrome”), maybe you should go back to the local troll board known as “Spokane Craig’s List R&R.”
As for Wilson, I hope they throw the book at him. We don’t need bad Americans like him polluting the Social Security/Medicare socialist system. In other words: NO TAXPAYER-FUNDED WALMART SCOOTER FOR YOU, MR. WILSON!
Loudin
PS: Brian Shute is a draft-dodging, pill-popping, sex-fiend…which means he listens to Limbaugh & O’Reilly. Loser!
sledmike on April 06 at 8:30 p.m.
You know, I keep hearing about this ‘cross-hairs map’ but have yet to see it….don’t spend enough time on the net I guess. Frankly, Palin is not that interesting and I don’t find her particularly influential.
I have some difficulty is assigning blame to her overly simplistic fit of bombast for the clearly insane rumblings of a madman. I don’t know Gov Palin, but I doubt she had intended to somehow inspire a nut to do ill to the Senator from Washington. Do you really believe that Diana or were you experimenting with sarcasm?
sledmike on April 06 at 8:42 p.m.
I’m lost….I don’t know who Brian Shute is….’another prospectives’ posts aren’t here so I don’t know what vile things he has written…therefore I leave for the night, alone amidst my confusion.
maria on April 06 at 8:44 p.m.
“You know, I keep hearing about this ‘cross-hairs map’ but have yet to see it”
It’s not hard to see. Just Google it.
Diana on April 06 at 8:45 p.m.
sledmike, I was just responding to your nutty characterizations. I wouldn’t put it past a Palin worshipper to think he’s carrying out her orders.
Look for her map. It’s all over the tubes.
misjustice on April 06 at 8:50 p.m.
http://www.examiner.com/x-14552-Social-Media-Examiner~y2010m3d25-Sarah-Palin-posts-political-hit-list-on-Facebook-taking-a-stand-or-suggesting-violence
There you go, sledmike…
Mr_Bloggy on April 06 at 8:54 p.m.
The fact the GOP is throwing their lot in with these ‘bagger foamjobs is kinda stunning to me. There is passion and there is foaming at the mouth synaptically deranged.
Start building the internment camps. Fire up the black choppers.
Whoop, whoop, WHUP,WHUP,WHUP
Time for the Big Teabagger Roundup of 2010
misjustice on April 06 at 9:11 p.m.
And, sledmike, here is a link to the Brian Schute reference…I must say, that one had me puzzled Loudin… lol ; )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_Quest
leekinny on April 06 at 9:37 p.m.
The GOP is afraid of FOX and their tea party people except for maybe, this recent attempt, by right wing Senator Coburn……
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/90745-coburn-defends-pelosi-takes-jab-at-fox
Will he have to pay for this or will he be joined by others ?
misjustice on April 06 at 9:53 p.m.
He will pay for it leekinny…did you read the vile comment thread that followed the article? I applaud his efforts, though.
misjustice on April 06 at 10:11 p.m.
Who’s Up For Building Bridges?
In case you missed it…
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/opinion/07friedman.html?ref=opinion
leekinny on April 06 at 10:12 p.m.
He’s easily one of my least favorite senators. I’m surprised he did it. Republicans eating their own. It’s fun to watch.
leekinny on April 06 at 10:28 p.m.
Good article, misjustice. He mentions free trade, in relation to the Republicans, which is just a race to the bottom without rules to make it fair.
Coffee on April 07 at 9:08 a.m.
I wonder if the UCLA will provide a lawyer to defend him?
Coffee on April 07 at 5:32 p.m.
ACLU
misjustice on April 07 at 7:12 p.m.
Oops, coffee, same typo two different threads…hey,hey,hey! ; )
maria on April 07 at 10:08 p.m.
misjustice: UCLA…..lol