Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who is handling the
case, stated that on March 21, 2019, at approximately 12:20 p.m., the defendant
placed a telephone call to the offices of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Member of
the United States Congress from the 5th Congressional District in Minnesota, in
Washington, D.C. A member of Congresswoman Omar’s staff answered the call.
During the call, the defendant stated, “Do you work for the Muslim
Brotherhood? Why are you working for her,
she’s a (expletive) terrorist? Somebody ought to put a bullet in her
skull. Back in the day, our forefathers
would have put a bullet in her (expletive).” The staff member recalled that the
defendant stated, “I’ll put a bullet in her (expletive)skull.”
Carlineo made the threatening call to retaliate against
Congresswoman Omar based on her performance of her official duties. Because he hates individuals he views as
radical Muslims being in the United States government, he believed that
Congresswoman Omar supports Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood and that
Congresswoman Omar’s election to the United States Congress was illegitimate.
After receiving the call, the threat was referred to the
United States Capitol Police, Threat Assessment Section, who began an
investigation in coordination with the FBI.
In addition, on April 5, 2019, the defendant – a previously
convicted felon – possessed a loaded .45 caliber handgun, three rifles, two
shotguns, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at his residence in Addison,
NY. In 1998, the defendant was convicted
of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree in Steuben County Court. In view of that conviction defendant was
legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
“This prosecution highlights the fact that the rights
secured in our Constitution carry with them certain responsibilities,” noted
U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “The First Amendment right to freedom of speech carries
with it the responsibility that individuals not make threats to harm lawmakers
simply because they may disagree with them. The Second Amendment right to bear
arms carries with it the responsibility that individuals who desire to possess
firearms not commit felony crimes. This Office remains vigilant in upholding
the rule of law and reinforcing the notion that—above all else—our Nation’s founders
viewed self-governance as the responsibility that each citizen has to control and
govern their own behavior.”
The plea is the result of an investigation by Federal Bureau
of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert,
and the United States Capitol Police, under the direction of Matthew R.
Verderosa. Sentencing is scheduled for
February 14, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. before Chief Judge Geraci.
