A former Republican candidate for Congress in Florida, William Robert Braddock III, has been arrested for threatening his political opponent with a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” during their primary race in 2022. Braddock, who was recently brought back to the U.S. from the Philippines to face charges, appeared in court in Los Angeles for the first time on Thursday, as announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday.
The 41-year-old Braddock is facing one count of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person, which could result in a maximum of five years in prison. His opponent, current Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, had accused Braddock of stalking her and expressing the desire to see her dead during their intense campaign to fill the seat left by then-Rep. Charlie Crist.
In a phone call on June 8, 2021, Braddock allegedly threatened to utilize a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to make Luna disappear, according to the Justice Department. He also allegedly stated in a recorded call obtained by Politico that he was prepared to kill Luna for the “good” of the country, referring to her as an obstacle in the road.
Braddock had relocated to the Philippines during the investigation into the threats, according to the Justice Department. The FBI, St. Petersburg Police Department, Justice Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Philippine Department of Justice, and immigration bureau in the Philippines are all involved in the investigation.
Luna’s office stated that they are unable to comment on the indictment but mentioned that Luna has received an increasing number of death threats in the past month. The office highlighted the concerning trend of female members of Congress being targeted for stalking, violence, and harassment more frequently than their male counterparts.
Efforts to reach Braddock’s attorney have been unsuccessful at this time. The case underscores the importance of addressing violence in the political arena and ensuring the safety of all individuals involved in the democratic process.
