A Detroit man has been charged with threatening to kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and the state lawyer basic, Dana Nessel, prosecutors stat
A Detroit man has been charged with threatening to kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and the state lawyer basic, Dana Nessel, prosecutors stated on Friday.
The person, Robert S. Tesh, 32, was charged with false report of risk of terrorism, a felony. Mr. Tesh relayed what prosecutors referred to as “credible threats” to an acquaintance, utilizing a couple of social media messenger on April 14, First Lt. Mike Shaw, a spokesman for the Michigan State Police, stated on Friday.
He stated that the authorities had obtained a tip concerning the messages and that Mr. Tesh was arrested later that day at his dwelling. Lieutenant Shaw declined to say which social media platforms had been used. If convicted, Mr. Tesh may withstand 20 years in jail.
The threats weren’t particularly associated to the governor’s stay-at-home orders issued in March to stem the unfold of the coronavirus, Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Workplace, stated on Friday. She declined to offer extra particulars, saying they’d be revealed in courtroom.
“The alleged information on this case lay out a really disturbing situation,” Kym L. Worthy, the prosecutor for Wayne County, which incorporates Detroit, said in a statement. “We understand that these times can be stressful and upsetting for many people.”
She said the authorities “will not and cannot tolerate threats like these” against public officials who are carrying out their duties “as efficiently as they can.”
As for what made the threats “credible,” Lieutenant Shaw said, “You can’t make threats against anybody — members of the public, a member of a school board or about shooting up a Walmart or one of our elected officials.”
Mr. Tesh was arraigned on April 22, posted $50,000 bond and remains on a “GPS tether,” officials said.
“It is never acceptable to make threats of violence to anyone, but our officeholders as well,” the governor said on Friday, adding that officials take threats “very seriously,” The Associated Press reported.
A representative for the attorney general could not be immediately reached on Friday. Neither Mr. Tesh nor his lawyer, Jonathan Simon, could be reached.
Susan Beachy contributed research.