According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge, the
criminal complaint alleges that on January 23, 2020, the Washington, D.C.
office of California Congressman Adam Schiff received a threatening voice mail
that included a death threat to the Congressman.
On February 4, 2020, the Albany, NY, office of New York
Senator Charles Schumer received a threatening voice mail that also contained a
death threat to the Senator.
The threats were reported to the United States Capitol
Police, Threat Assessment Section, which began an investigation. The telephone number
that both the calls originated from was traced back to the defendant. When
questioned by Special Agents from the United States Capitol Police, Lippa
admitted to making the threatening calls to Congressman Schiff and Senator
Schumer because he was upset about the impeachment proceedings.
“The rights secured in our Constitution carry with them
certain responsibilities,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “When it comes to the
First Amendment, that responsibility includes the obligation not to threaten to
kill others. This Office will remain vigilant in our effort to uphold the rule
of law and to reinforce the ideal that in America the entire concept of
self-governance is fundamentally predicated on the responsibility that each of
us has to control and govern our own behaviors.”
The defendant is scheduled to make an initial appearance
this afternoon at 3:45 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by
the United States Capitol Police, under the direction of Chief Steven A. Sund,
with assistance from the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief
Patrick D. Phelan, and the United States Marshals Service, under the direction
of Marshal Charles Salina.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is
merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless
proven guilty.
