Authorities say 35-year-old Robert Lemke was arrested Tuesday at 6 a.m. in Bay Point, California, on charges that he sent threatening texts to Jeffries' brother during the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
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A spokesman for Congressman Jeffries confirmed that he was the member of Congress who was allegedly threatened by the retired Air Force captain.
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"Congressman Hakeem Jeffries is the Member of the House of Representatives referenced as 'Congressman-1' in the criminal complaint recently unsealed in Manhattan federal court," the spokesman said.
According to the complaint, Lemke also sent a threatening text to a family member of a journalist based in New York City.
Authorities say the threats stemmed from Lemke's dissatisfaction with the results of the 2020 presidential election.
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"Rather than peaceably disagree, Lemke allegedly threatened to harm those individuals' families, demanding they retract their statements," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said.
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NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea also spoke out on the arrest.
"To those individuals and groups that would seek to threaten a United States Congressman, this arrest should serve as a warning that the NYPD and its law enforcement partners, will ensure you are held accountable for your actions," Shea said.
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