Coon Rapids Man Threatened To Kill A U.S. Senator: Feds

COON RAPIDS, MN — A Coon Rapids man left voicemails threatening to harm and kill a U.S. Senator, according to federal authorities, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced Friday.

Last week, a grand jury agreed to indict Brendon Michael Daugherty, 35, on one count of threatening to murder a United States official and one count of interstate transmission of a threat.

The name of the senator has not been released to the public.

Daugherty made his initial appearance Friday in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung.

On June 11, Daugherty left two voicemail messages on the field office telephone of a U.S. Senator located outside Minnesota, authorities said. Both messages contained threats of violence directed at the senator, according to investigators.

Authorities said that in his first message, Daugherty said:

"You and the Republican Party should be proud that you’re pushing me to become a domestic terrorist. Have a nice [expletive] day; can’t wait to kill ya."

According to investigators, in his second message, Daugherty said:

"I also just wanted to note, thank god the Republican Party is against gun control laws because it would keep guns out of the hands of a person that was disabled and volatile like I am, but you guys are totally against that. So I may actually get to carry out my nefarious goals."

The senator's staff then recorded the messages and reported them to U.S. Capitol Police, according to authorities.

On Sept. 2, special agents with the FBI spoke to Daugherty at his home in Coon Rapids, a news release said.

Daugherty told the agents he made the calls because the U.S. Senator was "doing a bunch of stupid [expletive] with gun control," and that he wants politicians to "feel a little bit pressured." according to authorities.

Earlier this spring, a St. Paul man was sentenced to a year in prison followed by two years of supervised release for threatening a United States Representative.