Brian Michael Gaherty from Texas has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for making death threats to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).
Gaherty threatened Waters multiple times in 2022, leading to his indictment in April 2023 on counts of making threats in interstate communications and threatening a U.S. official.
“Threats to harm or kill elected officials are anathema to our nation’s values and must not – and will not – be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada stated. “My office and the entire Department of Justice will continue to combat threats against public officials and other attempts to chill democracy.”
Despite warnings to stop, Gaherty persisted in making violent threats, including leaving threatening voicemails and indicating a contract on Waters’ life.
The severity of his actions led to strong condemnation from the U.S. Attorney and a plea agreement where Gaherty admitted to these threats, emphasizing the commitment to combat such behavior that undermines democracy.
“Authorities contacted Gaherty and warned him to disengage in October 2022, but a few weeks later, he persisted with his violent threats,” a press release read. “In November 2022, Gaherty left Waters two additional voicemails, informing Waters that she ‘done [expletive] up’ by reporting his threats to law enforcement, and stated, ‘This ain’t no threat. It’s a … promise.’”
“He also threatened to meet Waters ‘on the street’ and ‘get in [her] face,’ and again told her that he and his ‘crowd,’ had a contract to ‘take [her]… out.’ Finally, he warned, ‘You better watch your back,’” it added.
