Georgia man indicted after allegedly threatening Sens. Ted Cruz and Deb Fischer

A Georgia antheral was arraigned Monday connected charges of communicating threats successful interstate commerce successful transportation with threatening intersexual unit against Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Deb Fischer of Nebraska, national prosecutors said.

Robert Davis Forney of Duluth near voicemails successful January threatening intersexual unit against the 2 senators, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia alleged. Forney, 25, is besides accused of threatening Cruz's family.

Forney's arraignment earlier a U.S. magistrate justice follows his indictment by a national expansive assemblage successful Georgia past week, prosecutors said.

Spokespeople for Cruz and Fischer did not instantly respond to requests for remark connected Monday night.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia condemned governmental unit against elected officials successful a statement.

“Threatening our elected officials and their families is an enactment of unit that undermines our full democracy,” Hertzberg said. “Political sermon and disagreements ne'er warrant resorting to vile attacks against our nation’s leaders.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent successful Charge Paul Brown offered a akin sentiment, saying successful a connection that determination “is nary spot for governmental unit oregon threats of unit successful the United States.”

U.S. Capitol Police, which is besides investigating the case, did not instantly respond to a petition for remark connected Monday night.

The arraignment follows a increasing inclination of governmental unit against elected officials.

A Minnesota antheral was taken into custody connected Sunday nighttime successful transportation with the fatal shooting of Democratic authorities Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and injuring different Democratic authorities lawmaker and his woman successful what authorities person called “politically motivated” attacks.

U.S. Capitol Police said successful February that menace appraisal cases had grown for a 2nd consecutive twelvemonth successful 2024, highlighting its probe of 9,474 concerning statements and nonstop threats against the members of Congress, their families and unit past twelvemonth and 8,008 threats successful 2023.

Following Saturday's Minnesota attacks, the Senate is holding an all-members briefing connected Tuesday focused connected information for lawmakers.