FL Man Threatened To Kill CA Congressman: U.S. Dept. Of Justice

GREENACRES, FL — A South Florida man was arrested Wednesday for threatening to kill a U.S. representative and his children last month, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Michael Shapiro, 72, of Greenacres left five voicemails for the congressman at his congressional office in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 19.

Though his name wasn’t mentioned in the news release, Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell confirmed he was the lawmaker threatened by Shapiro.

• Also Read: Prison Time For FL Man Who Threatened 3 Members Of Congress: DOJ

“There is no place in America for threats of political violence,” Swalwell said in a statement provided to NBC News. “We must always resolve our differences at the ballot box. While I will continue to protect my family and staff these continued threats will never stop me from representing my constituents.”

He was also one of three Congress members who received threatening phone calls from a Venice, Florida, man in 2020.

In one of Shapiro’s messages to Swalwell, he said that he was going to “come after you and kill you,” according to the DOJ. In another, he told the congressman that he was going to “come and kill your children.”

Shapiro pleaded guilty in federal court in 2019 for making threatening communications to another victim, the DOJ said.