Virginia man charged with threatening US Vice-President Kamala Harris
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The threatening messages targeting US Vice-President Kamala Harris were posted on July 27, six days after President Joe Biden endorsed her to take his place as the Democratic presidential candidate.
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WASHINGTON - A Virginia man was charged with making violent online threats against Vice-President Kamala Harris days after she began her US presidential campaign.
Frank Carillo was charged on Aug 2 in a federal court in Virginia with threatening the Vice-President after posting a series of messages targeting Ms Harris on social media site Gettr, according to court records.
Ms Harris is the Democratic candidate
“Kamala Harris needs to be put on fire alive, I will do it personally if no one else does,” read one post cited in court documents. Another said Ms Harris is “going to regret ever trying to become president”.
The messages were posted on July 27, six days after President Joe Biden announced he would not run for re-election and endorsed Ms Harris to take his place as the Democratic candidate.
The account also posted messages targeting Mr Biden and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Christopher Wray.
FBI agents seized a rifle and a handgun during a search of Carillo's home, according to court documents.
Carillo was expected to make his first court appearance on Aug 5. Attorney information for Carillo was not immediately available.
US Justice Department officials are concerned by what they have called a spike in threats to public officials in the country.
Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt
